The Senate and the House of Representatives are preparing to reconcile their differing versions of the Constitution Alteration Bill, which aims to establish state police, before sending it to the 36 state Houses of Assembly for final approval. While the House passed its version on June 10, the Senate approved the executive bill submitted by President Bola Tinubu on June 24. This constitutional amendment requires a two-thirds majority vote from state legislatures to proceed to the President for assent.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Legislative Discrepancies

The two chambers have produced versions with significant structural and content differences:

• Scope: The Senate version includes 26 clauses, whereas the House version contains 18.

• Constitutional Amendments: Each chamber targeted different sections of the constitution for revision; notably, they both proposed a new Section 214 to replace the current provisions for the Nigeria Police Force, though the Senate added 15 new sub-clauses compared to the House’s seven.

• Police Command and Control: The chambers differ on Section 215 regarding police oversight. The Senate proposes a “Commander” structure under “Appointment, Command, Direction and Tenure,” while the House maintains the title “Commissioner of Police”.

• Standards and Transitions: The Senate version includes seven transitional provisions and broader amendments to the Second, Third, and Fourth Schedules of the Constitution, while the House only amended the Second and Third Schedules.

The Path to Harmonization

Benjamin Kalu, Deputy Speaker and Chairman of the House Committee on Constitution Review, stated that a conference committee will be formed after the House reconvenes on July 7 to unify the legislation.

• Process: Despite the differences, Kalu characterized them as minor drafting variations rather than fundamental disagreements.

• Next Steps: Following harmonization, there are plans for a ceremonial handover of the bill to the Speakers of the state Houses of Assembly.

• Implementation Safeguards: The legislation includes mechanisms to prevent the abuse of state police, specifically through the National Police Council, which will mandate minimum professional and accountability standards that states must meet for certification.

National Outlook

The proposal has garnered significant support, with state governors and the Conference of Speakers pledging to expedite the process once the bill reaches the state level. Demonstrating this readiness, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu confirmed that Lagos is prepared to launch its own police service, intending to utilize the expertise of retired security chiefs to bolster local security.

The family of Alhaji Ardo Risku Muhammad, the late Benue State Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), is demanding a comprehensive investigation into his murder. Alhaji Muhammad and his associate, Yakubu Isah, were killed on Friday afternoon while returning from a peace meeting convened by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Ohimini Local Government Area.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The Sequence of Events

According to the victim’s eldest son, Muhammad Idris, his father had traveled to Idekpa by motorcycle to attend the police-arranged dialogue, which aimed to address complaints regarding cattle-related crop destruction. Idris noted several concerning details regarding the meeting:

• Key local stakeholders, including the traditional ruler and the Ohimini Council Chairman, were notably absent from the gathering.

• While the meeting concluded peacefully, the family suspects a targeted operation, noting that a suspicious tinted Hilux van was observed monitoring the group shortly before the fatal attack.

• The ambush occurred at approximately 2:00 PM in Okwudu, Otukpo Local Government Area—just a few kilometers from the meeting site—resulting in the deaths of the MACBAN leader and Mr. Isah.

Official Response and Appeals for Calm

The family has questioned the security arrangements for such a high-risk meeting and is urging the Benue State Government and the Nigeria Police Force to ensure a transparent investigation.

In a joint press conference in Makurdi, local government chairmen from Idoma land and Governor Hyacinth Alia’s Special Adviser on Internal Security condemned the act. Key takeaways from the officials included:

• Denial of Ethnic Targeting: Ohimini Council Chairman Gabriel Adole and Agatu Chairman James Melvin Ejeh emphasized that the murder was the work of “criminal elements” and enemies of peace, explicitly stating it was not a premeditated act by the local Idoma-speaking community.

• Commitment to Justice: Officials vowed to support security agencies in uncovering the perpetrators and insisted that the killers be identified and prosecuted.

• Plea Against Reprisals: Joseph Har, the Special Adviser on Internal Security, described the incident as unacceptable and urged the Fulani community to avoid retaliatory attacks, warning that such actions would only further destabilize the region’s recent period of relative peace.

The Katsina State Government has officially distanced itself from reports regarding the arrest of suspected bandit leaders at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport following their return from the 2026 Hajj. While the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, previously announced the arrest of seven individuals identified as Boko Haram and ISWAP commanders—made possible by Nigeria’s integrated digital identity and border management system—the state government maintains that these matters are under the exclusive jurisdiction of federal agencies like the DSS and the Nigeria Immigration Service.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

• Government Stance: Nasiru Mu’azu Danmusa, the Katsina State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, stated that the state government neither conducted nor authorized any arrests, directing inquiries to federal authorities. Additionally, the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Bala Salisu Zango, and the Executive Director of the Katsina State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Yunusa Abdullahi Dankama, both denied knowledge of any such arrests or the participation of bandits in the state-sponsored Hajj.

• Contradictory Sources: Contrary to the Minister’s statement, a source within the Nigeria Immigration Service indicated that the individuals apprehended were suspected bandit leaders rather than Boko Haram or ISWAP commanders, noting that some citizens of the Niger Republic were also among those detained.

• Allegations of Lapses: Public discourse has been fueled by claims from political analyst Dr. Bashir Kurfi and other sources, who allege that notorious bandit leaders were able to perform this year’s Hajj due to security screening failures, with some reportedly traveling through the state’s official arrangements. The state government has consistently denied these allegations of sponsorship.