By Ayodele Oni
A political scientist and academic, Prof Jibrin Ibrahim, has warned that allowing state governors to control state police could undermine the expected benefits of the initiative and open the door to abuse of power.
The don cautioned against placing the proposed state police under the direct control of state governors.
Speaking on Channel’s Television Sunrise Daily on Saturday, Ibrahim argued that governors might deploy such security outfits against political opponents rather than criminals.
According to him, while the constitutional argument for state police is based on Nigeria’s federal structure — which allows federating units to establish security institutions within their jurisdictions — placing the forces under governors’ control could be dangerous.
Ibrahim noted that the current political environment in many states raises concerns that state police could be used to suppress opposition and entrench political power rather than improve security.
“The idea of state policing is worrisome, and if they are established under the control of state governments, we may be heading for trouble,” he said.
He also questioned the rationale behind creating state police, if they would remain under the authority of the Nigeria Police Force.
His comments come after Inspector-General of Police, (IGP) Olatunji Disu, inaugurated a seven-member steering committee on the establishment of state police in Nigeria, to be chaired by Prof Olu Ogunsakin, a scholar of police studies.
The IGP said decentralising policing would enable state and local authorities to respond more effectively to security challenges within their jurisdictions.
President Bola Tinubu has repeatedly pledged to establish state police as part of broader efforts to address insecurity.
He recently asked the National Assembly to amend the 1999 Constitution to create the legal framework for the initiative, a process lawmakers have already commenced.
The president affirmed that “Security is the foundation of prosperity. Without it, farms cannot flourish, businesses cannot grow, and families cannot sleep in peace.
The president spoke in Abuja, when he hosted governors for the breaking of an interfaith fast at the Presidential Villa.
“We will establish state police to curb insecurity. This is not about politics. It is about practicality. It is about empowering states with the tools to protect their people while strengthening our national framework.
“We must be bold enough to reform what is not working. We must be united enough to protect what we hold dear.’’
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