Govs Rekindle Hope for State Police

The recent statement by the governors of the 36 states of the federation indicating their preparedness for the establishment of state police has rekindled the hope for a possible end to the state of insecurity in the country, Davidson Iriekpen writes

To curb the security challenges in their states, the governors of the 36 states of the federation recently declared their readiness to establish state police. The revelation was made by Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani during an interaction with journalists after the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting presided over by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Governor Sani, however, disclosed that NEC later postponed the final decision on the establishment of state police in the country until January 2025.

 According to him, the 36 states had already submitted proposals supporting the move to address Nigeria’s growing security challenges, adding that only the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was yet to submit its proposal.

“Virtually every state has its own peculiar security challenges, and many agree that state police is the way forward,” he said. 

According to him, establishing state police will help address these gaps, particularly in states grappling with unique security issues.

For over a decade, Nigeria has struggled with terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and other forms of criminality.

 As a result, both the citizens and foreigners resident in Nigeria live in constant fear, sleeping with one eye open, wary of the unknown. Road travellers often recount harrowing tales of fear, with many being killed, robbed, or kidnapped for ransom.

Each day brings fresh reports of deadly attacks, forcing residents to abandon their communities. Even worship centres have not been spared from marauding terrorists, whose senseless violence aims only to kill and destroy.

The hunger and starvation that ravaged Nigeria in 2023 and 2024 were due to the inability of farmers to go to farm in the previous years as a result of attacks by bandits.

According to Beacon Consulting in its security incident tracker, no fewer than 29,828 people were killed, while 15,404 others were kidnapped across the country between 2021 and 2023. While over 20,000 persons are believed to have been killed, 13,000 others were kidnapped for ransom this year.

Attacks in states like Katsina, Kebbi, Kaduna, Zamfara, Sokoto Plateau, Benue, Niger and parts of the South-east are a daily occurrence.

The country has continued to record incidents of kidnapping, armed robbery, and killings, despite the special operations in many parts of the country by the military, the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and other federal security agencies.

 The unending state of insecurity has eroded public confidence in the nation’s current federal security structure, prompting stakeholders to call for the establishment of state police.

The primary responsibility of the government is the protection of lives and property. However, successive governments in Nigeria have failed in this regard as killings and kidnappings by terrorists have become the order of the day in some parts of the country, leading to the clamour for the establishment of state police. However, the federal government had sustained its resistance to any legislation to that effect.

In August 2020, President Muhammadu Buhari approved N13.3 billion for the commencement of community policing as part of measures to consolidate efforts aimed at enhancing security nationwide. 

However, with the recent rise in insecurity in all parts of the country and the assumption of office by President Bola Tinubu, an apostle of true federalism and devolution of power, agitations for the decentralisation of the Nigeria Police Force have remained persistent.

The proponents of state police have argued that the present centralised policing system cannot and will not address the mounting insecurity in the Nigerian federation.

Those who spoke to THISDAY argued that it has become practically impossible for the current policing structure to effectively police the country. 

They further argued that for effective policing, police officers and men must be familiar with their environment, and understand the language and culture of the people.

The current policy of moving police personnel to unfamiliar environment across ethnic, linguistic, and religious boundaries has become counterproductive.

 However, many who are averse to the idea of state police, have raised concerns on the likelihood of abuse by overbearing governors who act like emperors in the states.

The likes of the current Inspector General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun who are also against state police, have argued that Nigeria Police Force should be strengthened and properly funded.

But what is obvious is the seeming failure of a centralised policing system. 

But worried by the rising insecurity across the country, the governors of the 19 northern states under the aegis of the Northern Governors Forum, and the Northern Traditional Rulers Council have called for the establishment of state police.

There has also been a consistent clamour for state police by governors and other stakeholders in the southern part of the country.

  One of the major recommendations of the 2014 National Conference was the creation of state police. 

Since every crime is localised, it is generally believed that a state policing system will curb insecurity, if well managed and adequately equipped.

 Being closer to the grassroots, personnel of state police have the advantage of knowing the terrain and the people as well. 

Globally, the state police system is the standard in advanced democracies. Nigeria’s democracy is modelled after that of the United States, yet in practice, the country’s system lacks the fine points of that bastion of democracy.

The cause of this anomaly is Section 214 of the Nigerian Constitution, which stipulates that there can only be one Nigeria Police Force at the federal level.

Under the current system, the Inspector General of Police is accountable only to the President and Commander-in-Chief.

 Proponents of state police argue that the current structure provided in the 1999 Constitution, is faulty and against the tenets of a federal system of government.

 With the recent happenings, a centralised police force for a country with a population of over 200 million spread over 36 states, a federal capital territory, and 774 local government areas, cannot effectively tackle crimes and other forms of insecurity.

 Security experts and other stakeholders believe that if the governors who are the chief security officers of their states have direct control over the state police, the several attacks would be avoidable.

Under the current structure, the governors have little or no power over the police as they can be overruled by the higher police authorities in Abuja.

This is why the recent decision of the governors is a right step in a right direction and many are calling on President Tinubu and the National Assembly to write their names on the good side of history by responding positively to the rising clamour for state police.