As violent crimes surge across the country—from mass abductions to repeated attacks on communities—fresh pressure is mounting for the creation of state police, a long-debated reform many now see as urgent and unavoidable.
Across Nigeria, frustration continues to grow as the current centralised policing structure struggles to match the scale and speed of worsening insecurity. In recent days, the nation has witnessed multiple distressing incidents that further exposed the system’s weaknesses.
Gunmen recently abducted more than 300 pupils from St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Niger State, in an incident reminiscent of the 2014 Chibok tragedy. In Kebbi State, 25 schoolgirls from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, were kidnapped, and the vice principal was killed in the attack. Last week, bandits abducted worshippers at a parish of Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, Kwara State, killing three people.
Similarly, five police officers were killed in Bauchi State, while 12 female farmers were kidnapped in Borno State. Although the Kebbi schoolgirls and Kwara church members have been freed, the Niger pupils remain in captivity.
Security experts note that these events underline the limitations of Nigeria’s unified police system and have reignited widespread calls for a decentralised, more responsive security arrangement.
South-West Governors Renew Call
Governors in the South-West have reaffirmed their demand for the establishment of state police, declaring that the reform “can no longer be delayed.” The South-West Governors’ Forum made the declaration after a closed-door meeting held in Ibadan on Monday.
The meeting had in attendance the forum’s Chairman and Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, alongside Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo), Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti), and Seyi Makinde (Oyo). Their communiqué revealed plans for coordinated security operations, intelligence sharing, and rapid-response mechanisms across all six states.
Nasarawa Governor Supports Push
Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, also backed the renewed agitation. Speaking on Arise Television’s Prime Time, he explained that 35 out of 36 governors had already agreed on the need for state police months ago.
He emphasised that while the executive arm supports the reform, the National Assembly must pass the relevant legislation before it can become a reality. Sule stressed that existing vigilante groups and joint task forces, though helpful, remain far less effective than a properly constituted state police system.
He insisted that stakeholders must intensify efforts to make the long-demanded reform a reality.
Lagos APC Joins The Demand
The Lagos chapter of the All Progressives Congress has thrown its weight behind the push, describing the call as “timely, logical and inevitable.” The party argued that only those benefiting from insecurity would resist such a reform.
The APC noted that state policing would improve intelligence gathering, enhance community-level security, and enable faster crime response, stressing that “the time for state police is now.”
Analyst Warns Of Possible Failure
Despite the groundswell of support, Public Affairs Analyst Nduka Odo has cautioned that state police might fail unless backed by proper funding, adequate training, and real political commitment.
In an interview on Tuesday, he explained that Nigerians are understandably alarmed by widespread kidnappings—including babies, nursery pupils, and hundreds of schoolchildren—but warned that simply creating state police structures will not solve the crisis.
According to him, the core problem is not the location of the police headquarters, but chronic underfunding, inadequate training, and a lack of technological capacity. He warned that replicating the same issues at the state level will only lead to more failure.
He argued that without genuine political will, professionalism, and investment in equipment, state policing could deteriorate into another expensive experiment.
Odo further noted that state governors already exert considerable influence over current police commissioners and have access to other security agencies. He said this means states can still act decisively—if they choose to.
He, however, agreed that if the federal government lacks the will to drive meaningful reforms, states should be allowed to create their own police units, provided they fund, train, and empower them properly.
He concluded that only sincere commitment from leaders—not merely structural changes—will determine whether state police succeed or fail.
