Follow Us on Google
…Recommends alternative
Former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Edo State, Henry Idahagbon has applauded the state police reforms, saying the need for police reforms was undeniable.
He, however, expressed fears that it could become a dangerous weapon in the hands of state governors, whom he said already wield much power. He suggested a hybrid approach, which he said would preserve federal control while improving local policing effectiveness rather than immediately creating state-controlled police structures that will become a dangerous weapon for the governors.
He expressed fear that governors with authoritarian tendencies could potentially use the state police to intimidate political opponents, suppress legitimate criticisms, harass activists and even punish members of his own party, who dare to disagree with him, hence the need for federal control measures to be in place.
“There are compelling reasons to question the wisdom of handing coercive police powers to state governments. Before the nation embraces state police as a cure-all, it must confront the possibility that today’s solution could become tomorrow’s instrument of political oppression,” he said.
Rather than embarking on full blown establishment of State Police, Idahagbon recommends an alternative reform of federal control police. “The new reform should have maintained the Nigeria police as a federally controlled institution but ensure that key officers, particularly commissioners of police (CPs) and Divisional Police Officers (DPOs), are deployed primarily to serve in their states of origin. The rank and file should be recruited and deployed to serve in the local government areas too.
“Under this arrangement, police officers would remain employees of the Federal Government, operate under national standards and remain accountable to federal institutions such as the Police Service Commission. However, their postings would take into consideration their knowledge of local communities, culture, language and security realities,” he suggested.
He argued that a Commissioner of Police serving in his or her state of origin is likely to possess a deeper understanding of local security challenges and stronger community networks. “Likewise, a DPO who understands the local environment, traditional institutions and social relationships may be better positioned to gather intelligence and build trust with residents. This model addresses one of the strongest arguments for state police, the need for local knowledge, without creating the risk of governors directly controlling armed security institutions and creating Frankenstein monsters therefrom,” he said.
While sharing practical experience on the issue, he used former Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki and former Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State as examples.
“Experience with former Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, illustrates why caution is necessary. Without the benefit of a state police and only with his trained thugs, his administration successfully resisted the inauguration of 14 members of the Edo State House of Assembly duly elected during the 2019 legislative elections. The episode generated widespread criticisms from opposition figures and raised concerns about executive interference with legislative independence. Critics accused the administration of relying on political structures and non-state actors to enforce its position.
“Let us imagine state police in the hands of Mallam el-Rufai, the former Governor of Kaduna State, who took pleasure in demolishing the houses of the opposition figures and dissenting members of his party. He ruled Kaduna State like an emperor and his words were law.
“If these two governors cited as examples herein can exert such influence over political institutions without controlling a police force, what could happen if the governors had direct command over a state police structure,” he queried.
The legal luminary and public affairs analyst said the greatest concern is not necessarily with the concept of state police, but the possibility that it could become another instrument of political control in the hands of already powerful state governors.
“Nigeria’s democratic experience has shown that some political leaders struggle with the principles of separation of powers, respect for opposition and institutional independence. Introducing state police without strong constitutional safeguards may create an avenue for some governors to transform the police into personal political tools,” he cautioned.
Idahagbon, in a two-page article, titled, ‘State Police in Nigeria: A good idea that may become a dangerous weapon,’ said “The House of Representatives last week advanced one of the most consequential constitutional reforms since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule by approving a bill to establish state police. While most Nigerians have welcomed the proposal as the long-awaited answer to the country’s security challenges, the walkout by minority lawmakers underscored an uncomfortable truth. State police can either become a historic reform that strengthens Nigeria’s security architecture or a dangerous weapon in the hands of political actors. We do not only need more police. We need better institutions, stronger checks and balances and leaders who understand that security agencies exist to protect citizens, not to serve political interests.”
According to him, there is also the challenge of professionalism and neutrality. “The Nigerian police, despite its many shortcomings, operates under a national command structure intended to provide some degree of uniformity and independence. State police may struggle to maintain professional standards if recruitment, promotion, discipline and deployment become heavily influenced by state political authorities.
“Funding is another serious issue. Many Nigerian states currently squander their huge resources and struggle with basic responsibilities such as infrastructure development, healthcare, education and even salary obligations.
“Maintaining an effective police force requires huge financial commitments in training, equipment, intelligence systems, welfare and modern technology. Poorly funded state police commands may become ineffective and dependent on political sponsors,” he stated.
He warned against replacing one problem with another as the objective is not to create ethnic or regional police structure but to create a more effective, responsive and trusted police service for contemporary times.
He stressed that a federal police system with strategic local deployment may, therefore, provide a safer middle ground, combining the strength of a unified national police institution with the advantages of local knowledge and community engagement.
“We should first build safeguards against abuse of power before the full implementation of the state police,” he emphasised.
