Coalition urges federal government: Establishing regional law enforcement has become a pressing necessity

The Igbo Heroes and Icons Foundation is calling on the Nigerian federal government to expedite the establishment of state police, citing its potential to effectively address the country's insecurity issues. President of the foundation, Chinedu Nsofor, made this plea in a statement released on Friday.

n

Nsofor emphasized that President Bola Tinubu's directive to the Inspector General of Police to develop a plan for state police should be swiftly acted upon. He believes that the benefits of state police far outweigh the concerns about potential abuse by governors, as long as adequate checks are put in place.

n

A decentralized policing model, according to the Igbo Heroes and Icons Foundation, would significantly enhance intelligence gathering and response times, thanks to local officers' familiarity with the terrain, languages, culture, and social networks within their communities. This local knowledge enables them to identify and prevent criminal activities more effectively.

n

The current system requires police commands to wait for directives from Abuja before making major operational decisions, which can be fatal in emergency situations, such as terrorist or bandit attacks on rural communities. A properly structured state police system would enable governors and state security authorities to respond promptly to threats within their jurisdictions.

n

The foundation attributes Nigeria's security crisis to structural problems, noting that governors, as "Chief Security Officers" of their states, lack the authority to command necessary policing structures to protect their people. Allowing states to establish and manage their own police formations would bridge this gap and strengthen national security.

n

One major concern about state police is the potential for governors to misuse the force for political intimidation, which can be mitigated by incorporating strong institutional safeguards into the modalities for state policing. A significant advantage of state police would be their ability to coordinate directly with local security networks, such as community vigilantes and forest guards.

n

Many states have established vigilante groups, but these groups are limited by law, lacking access to modern equipment and proper legal backing. The Igbo Heroes and Icons Foundation argues that if state police structures were constitutionally recognized, these community-based security formations could be trained, regulated, and equipped to defend rural communities.

n

The foundation's statement highlights the need for a properly structured state police system, which would allow community-based security formations to be properly trained and equipped, ultimately strengthening national security. The statement reiterates the foundation's long-held argument that Nigeria's security crisis is largely a structural problem that can be addressed through state police.