Contemporary Security Challenges and Agitation for State Police in Nigeria: Issues and Perspectives

This study examined some issues and perspectives regarding agitation for creation of state police in Nigeria due to contemporary security challenges across the country (insurgency, cattle rustling, armed robbery, kidnappings, raping, farmers/herders conflicts among others) and ineffectiveness of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in discharging its constitutional mandate of maintaining law and order as well as protecting live and property of the people; some individuals and groups are calling for restructuring of the force for effective and efficient policing. The study acquired and analyzed available data in documents; based on this, the study has found that there are two divergent perspectives regarding restructuring of the NPF. Due to increasing problems of insecurity, some Nigerians are in support of establishment of state police under the constitutional control of the state governments in Nigeria. This will be through devolution of power; by placing it on the concurrent legislative list. This is because, it will help in curbing the current security challenges in the polity; the state police force is expected to comprise officers who understand the language, geography/terrain and the peculiar security challenges of the people they would be policing. This is in line with the principle of federalism, to decentralize or create state police. While others are of the view that, there is no need for two-tier police structure in the country due to behavior of Nigeria’s political figures. Objection is basically for fear of abuse of state police by state governors, ruling political parties and politicians which by extension fear of their use to intimidate political opponents, ethnic and religious minorities, and non-indigenes. The antagonists, advocated for internal reform of the NPF for effective service delivery. Considering the characteristics and character of Nigerian political actors, the study recommended the reform of the NPF