Experts seek legal backing for state police

Security experts, legal practitioners, and senior police officers have called for urgent constitutional reforms to enable the establishment of state police as Nigeria grapples with worsening insecurity across the country.

The call was made recently during a one-day roundtable on constitutional state policing held at the University of Ibadan and coordinated by Professor Benjamin Aluko of the TETFund Centre of Excellence in Security Management alongside Dr Seye Oyeleye of the DAWN Commission at Cocoa House.

Participants at the event examined the opportunities, risks, and implementation strategies for state policing, warning that rising cases of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and communal violence require immediate and practical action rather than prolonged debate.

In his opening remarks, Professor Aluko said the roundtable was convened to generate practical ideas that would guide implementation while ensuring that state policing does not threaten Nigeria’s democracy or peaceful coexistence.

“We are here to generate ideas for implementation, knowing that a badly executed state police structure could threaten our democracy and peace. Recommendations from this engagement will be forwarded to Southwest governors,” he said.

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Mothergold Limited and Mothergold Consulting, Dr Adesina Fagbenro-Byron, described the current security situation as alarming, noting that violent crimes once concentrated in parts of Northern Nigeria are gradually spreading to the South.

“This is no longer optional; it is a national necessity,” he stated while criticising the Inspector-General of Police’s proposed 60-month timeline for implementing state policing as too slow.

“Threats do not wait. We need a 12-month rollout plan that includes constitutional amendments, pioneer training programmes, and pilot implementation in prepared states, especially in the South-West,” he added.

Fagbenro-Byron also warned against the politicisation of state police structures, stressing the need for institutional safeguards to prevent governors from using security outfits as political tools.

According to him, independent police commissions, merit-based recruitment processes, and technology-driven operations would be crucial to the success of any decentralised policing system.

“We must avoid decentralising dysfunction,” he warned, advocating a phased approach that would prioritise legal reforms, personnel training, and community trust-building.

Former Oyo State Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General, Barrister Mutalubi Adebayo, SAN, said Nigeria previously operated native and border policing systems before they were scrapped.

He argued that while state police could complement the federal police system, constitutional amendments would be necessary to make it effective.

“Governors alone cannot implement it without constitutional backing,” he noted.

Former Commissioner of Police in Lagos State and former Security Adviser to the Oyo State Governor, CP Fatai Owoseni (retired), dismissed claims that operational policing decisions are entirely controlled from Abuja.

“Commissioners of Police already exercise operational discretion. I served in Lagos and Benue without constantly seeking directives from Abuja,” he said.

Owoseni identified poor funding, weaknesses within the Police Council, and ethnic distrust as major obstacles hindering effective policing in Nigeria.

He further referenced regional security initiatives such as Amotekun and community policing constabularies as partial measures that require stronger institutional support.

According to him, unresolved ethnic and political tensions could undermine state policing if not properly addressed.

Moderating the session, Professor I.O. Albert observed that police officers themselves are often victims of systemic failures.

“The police are victims too; the system itself is the problem,” he remarked.

Assistant Inspector-General of Police Adeoye Olafimihan, who delivered the closing remarks, urged stronger collaboration between citizens and law enforcement agencies to improve security nationwide.

“Police are the people, and the people are the police. We must unite to build safer communities,” he said.