In a decisive move that could reshape Nigeria’s security architecture, the House of Representatives on Thursday, June 11, 2026, passed a constitutional amendment bill aimed at establishing State Police across the federation. It seeks to move policing from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent List, empowering states to establish and control their own police formations, while maintaining federal oversight standards.The bill sponsored by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu and others secured the support of 289 lawmakers with just one lawmaker voting against it.
The passage, which came during plenary, and was monitored live, addresses long-standing concerns over the inadequacies of the centralized Nigeria Police Force in tackling pervasive insecurity, including banditry, kidnappings, terrorism, and rural violence.
Meanwhile, the bill for the Establishment of State Police and for Related Matters has also been sponsored at the Senate by the Senate Leader, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), and has already passed the second reading.
For the Anioma people — spanning Aniocha North and South, Oshimili North and South, Ika North East and South, Ndokwa East and West, and Ukwuani local government areas in Delta North — this bill carries profound implications. It offers a potential lifeline to communities that have borne the brunt of rising kidnappings, cultism, highway robberies, and other localized threats.
Implications for Anioma Communities
Anioma has not been spared Nigeria’s security woes. Communities in Aniocha North and South, such as Issele-Uku, Ubulu Uku and others, have witnessed alarming spikes in kidnappings, prompting desperate measures like communal curses and prayers by traditional institutions. Highway attacks along routes connecting Asaba to other parts, cult-related violence, and sporadic rural crimes have disrupted farming, education, and daily life — core to Anioma’s agrarian and cultural heritage.
A Delta State Police would enable:
Targeted Operations: Targeted Operations in flashpoints like border communities, farmlands, and markets.
Preservation of Cultural Festivals: Events like Iwaji (New Yam Festival), Ine Festival, and Ogbanigbe could proceed with greater confidence, free from fear of disruption.
Economic Boost: Enhanced security would attract investors to Asaba’s growing hub status, support agriculture in Ndokwa and Aniocha areas, and protect small businesses.
Youth Engagement: Structured recruitment and community programs could channel energies productively, reducing restiveness.
Governor Oborevwori’s administration has prioritized security through collaborations, operational support, and citizen involvement. State police could amplify these efforts, aligning with Delta’s development strides while addressing Anioma-specific calls for better representation and protection.
However, success hinges on inclusivity. Anioma leaders, traditional rulers (Obis and Ezes), and stakeholders must engage in shaping recruitment, training curricula (incorporating local customs), and deployment strategies to avoid marginalization.
The push for state police is not new. Critics of the current system have long argued that the federal police, with its command structure in Abuja, is overstretched, underfunded, and often slow to respond to local dynamics. Intelligence gaps, unfamiliarity with terrain and dialects, and divided loyalties have hampered effectiveness in diverse regions like the South-South.
These proponents also highlight several advantages such as faster response and local intelligence: State police would recruit from indigenes who understand community nuances, languages (such as Enuani dialect in Anioma), and cultural contexts.
As Nigerians all await and hope for the final realization of this important amendment, Anioma voices must be prominent in advocacy — ensuring the framework safeguards minority rights, promotes accountability, and integrates with cultural values of unity and communal vigilance that define Anioma people.
Without any doubt, the establishment of state police, if well-implemented, could mark a new era of safety, progress, and cultural preservation for Anioma.
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