Senator Mohammed Sani, representing the Niger East senatorial district and chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, has voiced his strong opposition to the establishment of State Police, arguing that it could be exploited by the political elite.
During a visit to the Kuta Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp, where he expressed condolences to victims of recent bandit attacks, Senator Sani emphasized that the focus should be on adequately funding the existing police force. He noted that the financial resources currently available to sub-national governments are insufficient to support a State Police system.
The Kuta IDP Camp, which shelters over 3,000 displaced individuals, predominantly women and children, is facing growing concerns regarding the lack of essential facilities to meet their basic needs. Esther Jonah, a community health worker overseeing the camp, reported that poor healthcare and hygiene conditions are leading to frequent child fatalities.
Among the displaced is Hadiza Umaru, a mother of six, who has lived in the camp since bandits killed her husband and destroyed their food supplies four years ago. She expressed a collective desire among the IDPs for authorities to restore peace to their communities.
In his address to the IDPs, Senator Sani assured them that efforts are underway to enhance security in the affected regions of the state, enabling displaced persons to return home safely. He urged the military leadership to expand their anti-bandit operations in Niger State, similar to those currently in place in Zamfara State.
