Nigeria's Senate Approves State Police in Constitutional Amendment

Nigeria's Senate has approved a constitutional amendment that would allow the country's 36 states to establish their own police forces, operating alongside the existing federal police.

Supporters of the change argue that state police could strengthen security in areas hit hard by kidnappings and militant violence, bringing law enforcement closer to local communities that have struggled with insecurity.

The amendment marks a significant shift in how policing is structured in Africa's most populous nation, where security has been a persistent challenge across several regions.

The move comes as Nigeria pursues a broader strategy against insecurity, including mass trials of suspected militants, with hundreds of suspects appearing before a federal court in Abuja as part of efforts to confront an insurgency that has killed thousands.