Benue Assembly Passes State Police Bill, Seeks Constitutional Amendment

The Benue State House of Assembly passed a bill on Tuesday, October 20, seeking to amend Nigeria’s Constitution to permit state police alongside the Federal Police Service. Majority Leader Peter Ipusu argued that decentralised policing could improve local intelligence and responses to rural banditry, farmer-herder conflicts and urban crime. Speaker Alfred Emberga directed the Assembly clerk to send the decision to the National Assembly for further legislative action. Lawmakers also passed at first reading a free eye screening and cataract surgery bill sponsored by Simon Gabo.