THE rising wave of insecurity across Nigeria has brought to the fore a persistent demand: the creation of state police in all the states of the federation. The failure of the federal police to adequately protect citizens from the brutality of bandits and terrorists has made this demand both urgent and unavoidable.
INDEED, the calls have reached such intensity that both chambers of the National Assembly established committees to tour the country, seeking public opinion on whether constitutional amendments are necessary to reflect contemporary security realities.
YET, not all Nigerians are convinced. Critics of the proposal warn that state police, if established, could be misused by governors to intimidate opponents and silence dissent. Many others argue that states already struggle to meet basic needs, let alone shoulder the financial burden of funding, equipping and training a professional police force. Under such circumstances, poorly paid personnel could become corrupt and ineffective, replicating or even worsening the failures of the current federal system.
FURTHERMORE, there are concerns about governance and human rights. Opponents fear that governors might use state police to suppress political opponents, rig elections and engage in arbitrary arrests. Also, fragmenting the police system could also impair coordination between states, a crucial factor in tackling highly mobile criminal networks operating across state borders. It is pertinent to point out that, without strong oversight, state police risk becoming instruments of extrajudicial killings and human rights violations, repeating some of the worst practices of the present system.
PROPONENTS of state police, however, argue that local knowledge and proximity are vital to improving security. Unlike the federal police, often concentrated in urban areas, state police would be embedded within the communities they serve. Familiarity with local terrain, languages and culture would allow faster and more effective responses to kidnappings and bandit attacks, particularly in rural areas. Being part of the community would also foster trust, a critical element for intelligence gathering, preempting attacks, and identifying criminal hideouts—tasks that require intimate local networks.
DIRECT control of state police by governors would also enhance accountability. Currently, governors are designated ‘Chief Security Officers’ of their states but wield little real authority over the police, thus creating a gap between responsibility and power. Moreover, security challenges differ across states. Therefore, a uniform, centrally controlled approach limits flexibility. State police could instead develop strategies tailored to local realities rather than relying solely on Abuja.
EVIDENCE from developed countries is instructive. In the United States, Germany, India, Brazil and South Africa, multi-layered policing systems operate efficiently, with state, federal and local forces working in concert to complement each other. Nigeria would do well to learn from these examples, adopting a policing model that combines local responsiveness with coordinated oversight.
NO doubt, state police, if properly structured, funded and monitored, could be the missing link in Nigeria’s quest for security. It is time for the nation to confront its security challenges with both courage and prudence, recognising that the safety of its citizens must be paramount.