A United States lawmaker has called for the decentralisation of Nigeria’s policing system, arguing that state governments must be empowered to respond more effectively to worsening insecurity, particularly in the country’s Middle Belt.

Riley Moore, who represents West Virginia’s Second District, said “Christians in Nigeria continue to face brutal violence and death at the hands of radical Islamic terrorists,” stressing the urgency of stronger localised security responses.

He urged authorities in Abuja to take more decisive action, stating that “the government in Abuja must step up and protect their citizens in the Middle Belt.”

Moore further advocated structural reforms to Nigeria’s policing framework, noting that “it’s past time to decentralize police authority so state governments can protect their citizens and stop this horrific persecution.”

His comments add to growing international attention on Nigeria’s security challenges, particularly calls for reforms that would allow sub-national governments to play a greater role in maintaining law and order.

Christians in Nigeria continue to face brutal violence and death at the hands of radical Islamic terrorists.

The government in Abuja must step up and protect their citizens in the Middle Belt.

It’s past time to decentralize police authority so state governments can protect… https://t.co/ErzzWbwIUk

His recommendations also come amid promises by the Nigerian government to grant the creation of state Police to tackle myriad of security challenges at different states.

Earlier in March, SaharaReporters reported that Nigeria’s Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, inaugurated an eight-member committee to drive the implementation of state police, in what appears to be a major step that the President Bola Tinubu’s administration is pushing ahead with decentralising the country’s security architecture.

The committee, chaired by Prof. Olu Ogunsakin, is expected to oversee the framework for the controversial state policing model and coordinate the rollout of Disu’s broader policing vision following his confirmation as the 23rd indigenous IGP.

Disu said allowing different tiers of government to play active roles in security management would enhance intelligence gathering and responsiveness to local threats.

The inauguration of the state police implementation committee comes at a critical time for the Nigeria Police Force.

Meanwhile, President Tinubu had urged members of the Nigerian Senate to begin the process of amending the Constitution to incorporate state police, describing the decentralization of policing as crucial to reclaiming forests from armed groups and combat terrorism.

“What I will ask for is for you to start thinking how best to amend the Constitution to incorporate the state police for us to secure,” Tinubu told lawmakers during a meeting at the State House in Abuja.

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