STATE POLICE: A DANGEROUS PATH FOR NIGERIA’S DEMOCRACY AND NATIONAL SECURITY
The ongoing debate on the establishment of State Police in Nigeria has generated significant public interest. While proponents argue that State Police will help address the country’s growing security challenges, I strongly believe that creating State Police may create more problems than it seeks to solve.
What Nigeria urgently needs is not State Police, but a stronger, better-equipped, and more professional national security architecture. The Federal Government should focus on strengthening the capacity of existing conventional security agencies through improved intelligence gathering, modern technology, adequate funding, enhanced training, and a combination of kinetic and non-kinetic approaches to tackling insecurity.
Across Nigeria, many State Independent Electoral Commissions have struggled to conduct elections that inspire public confidence. If several state governments are unable to effectively fund and manage these institutions in a transparent and independent manner, it raises legitimate concerns about their ability to responsibly manage State Police formations without political interference.
There is a genuine risk that some political actors may weaponize State Police against opposition parties, human rights defenders, civil society organizations, journalists, concerned citizens, and critics of government policies. Such a development could weaken democratic institutions, undermine civil liberties, and threaten political pluralism across the federation.
Furthermore, State Police could potentially become more problematic than some of the vigilante structures currently operating in parts of the country if clear safeguards, accountability mechanisms, and operational independence are not guaranteed.
Nigeria certainly faces serious security challenges, including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, communal conflicts, and other violent crimes. These threats require professional responses driven by patriotism, intelligence, coordination, and respect for the rule of law. However, the solution should not be the fragmentation of policing powers in a manner that could expose citizens to abuse by political authorities at the state level.
We therefore call on human rights activists, civil society organizations, traditional rulers, religious leaders, the media, and all well-meaning Nigerians to critically examine the potential dangers associated with State Police and to ensure that national conversations on security reforms prioritize the protection of citizens’ rights and democratic values.
We also respectfully urge President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to prioritize massive recruitment into the military, police, and other paramilitary agencies, while investing heavily in intelligence gathering, surveillance technology, community policing, and security sector reforms. These measures will significantly strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to defeat terrorism, kidnapping, banditry, and communal violence that continue to threaten national peace, security, and stability.
In addition, we commend the efforts of Nigeria’s intelligence and security agencies, particularly the Department of State Services (DSS), for their continued sacrifices in safeguarding the nation. We encourage them to continue providing professional advice to policymakers and decision-makers on matters affecting national security and democratic governance.
Nigeria’s unity, stability, and democracy must remain paramount. Any security reform must strengthen, rather than weaken, the rights and freedoms of Nigerian citizens.
May Almighty God continue to guide our leaders and bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
COMRADE SULEIMAN A. ABUBAKAR
Human Rights Activist, Peace Builder, and Concerned Citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
Sulexy5@Gmail.Com
Writes from Yerwa Fato, Maiduguri, Borno State, North-East Nigeria
