By Emmanuel Iheaka
A group, Igbo Heroes and Icons Foundation has urged the federal government of Nigeria to treat as a matter of urgency the establishment of state police.
President of the foundation, Chinedu Nsofor, in a statement on Friday, said state police will help tremendously in tackling the insecurity ravaging the country.
Nsofor stated that President Bola Tinubu’s directive to the Inspector General of Police to work out modalities for state police is one that should be followed up quickly.
He submitted that the gains of state police far outweighs the fears of its abuse by governors, adding that a proper mechanism should be put in place to check any abuse.
“The Igbo Heroes and Icons Foundation maintains that a decentralized policing model would significantly improve intelligence gathering and response time. Local officers are more familiar with the terrain, languages, culture, and social networks within their communities. This local knowledge makes it easier to identify criminal elements and prevent attacks before they escalate.
“With the current system, police commands must often wait for directives from Abuja before taking major operational decisions. In situations where terrorists or bandits strike rural communities, such delays can be fatal. A properly structured state police system would allow governors and state security authorities to respond immediately to threats within their jurisdictions.
“The foundation has consistently argued that Nigeria’s security crisis is largely a structural problem. According to its leadership, governors are constitutionally designated as “Chief Security Officers” of their states but lack the authority to command the necessary policing structures to protect their people. Allowing states to establish and manage their own police formations would therefore bridge this gap and strengthen national security.
“One of the major concerns about state police is the fear that governors could misuse the force for political intimidation. To prevent this, the modalities for state policing must incorporate strong institutional safeguards.
A major advantage of state police would be their ability to coordinate directly with local security networks such as community vigilantes and forest guards.
“Currently, many states have established vigilante groups, but these groups are severely limited by law because they lack access to modern equipment and proper legal backing.
“The Igbo Heroes and Icons Foundation has argued that if state police structures were constitutionally recognized, these community-based security formations could be properly trained, regulated, and equipped to defend rural communities”, the statement read.
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