The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, has said the proposed state police structure will include safeguards to prevent governors from using the force for political, religious or sectional interests.

Adaramodu said the Federal Government, through the federal police, would be empowered to intervene where a state police command is found to be operating outside its constitutional mandate.

He explained that the arrangement was designed to address concerns that governors could deploy state police against political opponents, journalists, critics or groups perceived as unfavourable to their administrations.

“If it is perceived that a governor is using state police to pursue a partisan, religious, or sectional agenda, the federal police can step in,” Adaramodu said.

“The law provides that the federal police can take over the roles and functions of a state police force if it is found to be operating outside its constitutional mandate.”

The senator said the proposed framework contains checks intended to ensure that state police commands remain accountable and focused on their core responsibility of protecting lives and property.

“These are important safeguards designed to prevent anyone from using state police for personal or political interests,” he added. (The Sun)