American lawmaker calls for regional law enforcement to address Nigeria's security concerns

Riley Moore, a United States congressman, is advocating for Nigeria to adopt a decentralised policing system, contending that state governments need to be equipped to tackle the escalating insecurity, especially in the Middle Belt region, more effectively.

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This call to action was made by Moore in a post on X on Wednesday, where he urged Nigerian authorities to adopt a more proactive approach to safeguarding citizens.

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Moore's proposal involves implementing structural reforms to Nigeria's policing framework, emphasizing that decentralising police authority in the country is long overdue.

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He highlighted the plight of Christians in Nigeria, who are facing intense violence and death at the hands of radical Islamic terrorists, and stressed that the government in Abuja must take decisive action to protect its citizens in the Middle Belt.

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Moore explicitly stated that it is time for Nigeria to decentralise police authority, enabling state governments to protect their citizens and put an end to the horrific persecution, as evident in the destruction of another Christian church in Nigeria by Fulani militants.

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He shared photos of the destroyed St James the Great Catholic Church in Adu, Taraba, illustrating the constant terrorism faced by Christians in the region.

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Moore's comments contribute to the growing international attention focused on Nigeria's security challenges, particularly the need for reforms that grant sub-national governments a greater role in maintaining law and order.

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This call for reform comes as the Federal Government is renewing its efforts to establish state police as part of its strategy to address the country's complex security challenges.

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Nigeria's Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, has inaugurated an eight-member committee to oversee the implementation of state policing, marking a significant step towards decentralising the nation's security architecture under the administration of Bola Tinubu.

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The committee's primary objective is to develop a framework for the proposed state policing model and coordinate its rollout in line with the IGP's broader policing vision, following his confirmation as the 23rd indigenous Inspector-General of Police.

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President Bola Tinubu has also appealed to the National Assembly, particularly the Senate, to initiate the process of amending the Constitution to accommodate state police, describing the decentralisation of policing as crucial to reclaiming forests from armed groups and combating terrorism.