A socio-cultural organization, the Igbo Heroes and Icons Foundation, has called on the Federal Government to urgently implement the establishment of state police across Nigeria to address the growing security challenges in the country.
The President of the foundation, Chinedu Nsofor, made the appeal in a statement on Friday, stressing that state police would significantly improve the fight against insecurity.
According to him, the recent directive by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the Inspector-General of Police to develop modalities for the creation of state police is a welcome development that must be followed through without delay.
Nsofor noted that the benefits of decentralizing the police structure far outweigh concerns about potential abuse by state governors. He added that appropriate institutional safeguards can be put in place to prevent misuse.
“The Igbo Heroes and Icons Foundation maintains that a decentralized policing model would significantly improve intelligence gathering and response time,” he said.
He explained that local police officers would better understand the terrain, language, culture, and social networks within their communities, making it easier to identify criminal elements and prevent attacks before they escalate.
Nsofor further criticized the current centralized policing structure, stating that commands often have to wait for directives from Abuja before taking major operational decisions.
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“In situations where terrorists or bandits attack rural communities, such delays can be fatal. A properly structured state police system would allow governors and state security authorities to respond immediately to threats within their jurisdictions,” he said.
The group also argued that Nigeria’s security challenges are largely structural. Although governors are constitutionally designated as Chief Security Officers of their states, they lack the authority to directly command policing structures needed to protect their citizens.
The foundation acknowledged concerns that governors might misuse state police for political intimidation but emphasized that the solution lies in establishing strong institutional checks and balances.
It also highlighted the potential for better collaboration between state police and local security groups such as community vigilantes and forest guards.
According to the group, many states already operate vigilante outfits, but these groups are limited because they lack legal backing, proper training, and modern equipment.
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The foundation therefore argued that with constitutional recognition of state police, such community-based security networks could be properly regulated, trained, and equipped to help defend rural communities.
