Kalu: State police must not serve political interests

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has said the proposed state police must serve the people and not political interests.

Kalu, according to a statement by his Special Assistant on Press Affairs, Udora Orizu, stated this while speaking at the 2026 South-East Regional Security Summit, themed “Collaborative Approaches to Strengthening Security and Regional Stability.”

The Deputy Speaker noted that addressing the security challenges confronting the South-East and Nigeria at large requires a collective effort, as well as sustained collaboration among governments, security agencies, communities, and other stakeholders.

He described the State Police Bill as part of efforts to address the challenge of response time and the need to bring policing closer to communities.

According to him, “Criminal networks do not recognise state boundaries. Our response must therefore be regional. The framework should include a joint intelligence-fusion mechanism, interoperable communication systems, coordinated patrols along interstate routes, a shared database of wanted persons and criminal networks, and harmonised procedures for rapid response.

“Every distress call must reach the nearest capable security formation, irrespective of jurisdiction. Security agencies should also deepen intelligence-led operations. Checkpoints alone cannot defeat mobile and technologically enabled criminal groups.

“We require drones, geospatial mapping, forensic capability, automated vehicle identification, emergency communication systems, and professionally managed surveillance infrastructure.

“Technology, however, cannot replace community trust. Residents usually know when strangers enter their forests, when abandoned buildings become criminal camps, or when unusual arms move through their communities. They will provide information only when they believe their identity will be protected and their reports will lead to responsible action.

“We must consequently establish secure community-reporting channels, protect informants, and strengthen collaboration with traditional rulers, town unions, youth organisations, women’s groups, transport unions, and neighbourhood associations.”