Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has expressed strong reservations about the proposed State Police initiative, citing concerns about potential abuse of power by state governors and compromise of Human Rights and national security. He warned that the creation of state police forces could lead to a situation where governors use the police to settle political scores and intimidate their opponents, thereby undermining the Rule of Law and democratic governance. Egbetokun made his position clear at a national dialogue on state policing organized by the House of Representatives in Abuja, with the theme, “Pathways to Peace: Reimagining Policing in Nigeria.”
Stakeholders from various sectors, including law enforcement, government, civil society, and the private sector, came together for the event to discuss the feasibility and implications of establishing state police forces in Nigeria. The IGP’s opposition to state police is based on the fear that it could lead to a fragmentation of the police force and create a situation where each state has its own police force, answerable only to the state governor. This, he argued, could lead to a breakdown in the rule of law and the Erosion of human rights, as state governors might use the police to silence opposition and maintain their grip on power.
Support for state policing is becoming popular.
Despite the IGP’s reservations, the Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to establishing state police forces, with Vice President Kashim Shettima emphasizing the need for adaptive reforms to address the country’s complex Security challenges. Shettima, who represented President Bola Tinubu at the event, acknowledged the security challenges facing the country and emphasized the need for careful consideration of various options to address them. The Vice President noted that the government is committed to listening to recommendations and insights from stakeholders to shape policies that will lead to a more secure and just society.
He emphasized the need for a collaborative approach to address the security challenges facing the country, saying that the government cannot do it alone. Former President Goodluck Jonathan also lent his support to state policing, but emphasized the need for sufficient deliberations on the constitutional matter, particularly on how political actors at the sub-national level would hijack state police and use it against their opponents. He suggested that the focus should be on how to manage state police to prevent abuse, rather than debating whether or not to have state police.
Mild drama at the event as AIG commits gaffe.
Jonathan, who was a keynote speaker at the event, noted that the creation of state police forces is not a new idea, but one that has been discussed for many years. He recalled that during his administration, the idea of state police was proposed, but it was met with resistance from some quarters. He expressed hope that the current administration would be able to succeed where his administration failed. Other speakers at the event, including the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, and former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, also expressed support for state policing, with Abubakar calling for a role for traditional rulers in the constitution to enable them to play their part in security at the grassroots level.
The event also saw mild drama when Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Ben Okolo, committed a gaffe, recognizing Vice President Shettima but mistakenly adding “GSM” instead of “GCON”. The error elicited laughter from the participants, but Okolo corrected himself before leaving the podium. In a related development, the Kebbi State government has expressed its readiness to implement state policing, with the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Ahmed Idris, stating that the state is fully mature to handle state police. Similarly, the Ekiti State government has expressed support for community policing, which it believes will strengthen the country’s security network.
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However, the Gombe State command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has rejected the IGP’s suggestion that the NSCDC should be merged with the police, citing the Oransaye Report, which recommends that the two agencies remain separate. The debate over state police is a contentious one, with valid arguments on both sides. While proponents argue that it will improve security and reduce the burden on the federal police, opponents fear that it could lead to abuse of power and compromise human rights and national security. The outcome of the national dialogue and the subsequent actions of the government will determine the fate of the state police initiative.