Security Challenges and the Imperatives of State Police

Abstract Police forces around the world are responsible for the maintenance of law and order in the society. There primary objective is to protect lives and properties. The size and structure of police force of any nation is determined by its security situation. Most large countries like, China, India, United State of America whose population are very large operate multiple police forces to meet its security needs. Unlike Nigeria whose population is about 200 million occupying a very vast territory yet operates a single central police known as the Nigeria Police Force. Presently the country is besieged with major security challenges; Boko haram sect, cattle rustlers and Fulani herdsmen ravaging the north while kidnapper, arm robbers and Niger delta militants are foisting untold hardship on the people of southern Nigeria without abate. The efforts of the central police to combat these menace have not yielded any appreciable result. It is against this background that stake holders, opinion group, member of civil society groups and legislature at both federal and state level have continued to call for the creation of state police as the only way out of this security quagmire foisted on the country by the operation of a single and centrally controlled police force. However, the idea of creation of state police has received opposition from some quarters. This group cited fear of abuse of state police by the state authorities as their major concern. They cited the history of abuses of regional and local police by the regional governments during the events leading to the Nigeria independent in the 1960 and earlier years of the independence. This paper using doctrinal method appraised the history of Nigeria police force, its structure, development and causes of its present day challenges viz-à-viz the security situation of the country. It’s also reviewed the structure of police in the united state of America, India and South Africa to distill whether the structural template of their police forces if adopted in Nigeria can help the country out of its present security challenges and concluded that if Nigeria must overcome its present security deficiencies, there is no better time than now to allow states create, manage and control it State Police Forces.

The introduction of state police into Nigerian policing system has been widely suggested as the only solution for the curbing of the incessant security conundrum in the country. The mantra has gained popularity as a result of the surge in the rate of highly sophisticated crimes in the country, and the inability of the federal police command to contain the challenges. It is believed that the closeness of the state police to the society of its jurisdiction places it in more proactive position for the detecting and uprooting of any emerging crime before it grows. However, there is an opinion which insists that state police will lead to a situation in which there will be two rivaling institutions of the same responsibility, duty and nature in the country. This is mainly the opinion of the antagonists of state police. Nevertheless, the protagonists of the state police maintain that the creation of state police is the only solution to all Nigeria security challenges, given the acquaintance of the institution with the people and the terrain.

2020

This paper examines the vexed issue regarding the agitation for the creation of state police in the 36 states of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, especially in this era of terrorism and insecurity. It conceptualizes state police, terrorism and insecurity. Thereafter, it briefly chronicles the history of the Police Force; analyzes its establishment, structure and functions; x-rays the arguments for and against its creation; and recommends ways which, if followed, will help the federal government of Nigeria in stamping out terrorism and providing the enabling atmosphere for the security of lives and property of Nigerians, which is the basic preoccupation of government.

2016

The delivery of internal security is the exclusive role of the government and should be done with all urgency, seriousness and sincerity. The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) presently lacks: adequate personnel, adequate funds, adequate infrastructure, up-to-date equipment, intelligence training, specialized departments, freedom from political interference cum manipulation, discipline, and technology, all of which is essential for effectiveness and efficiency. It is based on this proviso that this paper attempts to remedy the inadequacies of the Nigerian Police Force arguing that in spite of the socioeconomic , ecological and socio-cultural impediments of the institution and the objections against decentralizing the institution, having a state police is the most effectual way to go for it will have a far reaching positive effect in curbing insecurity, crime, armed robbery, kidnappings, and extortion currently bedeviling the Nigerian state especially at the rural level, after all, most of the groups start by organizing themselves at this level.

The debate of whether or not Nigerian states should have their own police forces has become more contentious. This is not unconnected with the high and sophisticated crime rate and insecurity pervading the country. The sustenance of order, security of life, legality, development and democracy may be difficult without policing. With the prevailing security challenge in Nigeria, it will be right to say that the federal policing have certainly performed below expectation. Nevertheless, antagonists of state policing have argued against it on the ground that the country is not ripe for because state chief executives might turn them into personal armies to fight political oppositions. Policing in Nigeria could be traced to the colonial era which subjugated the existing traditional informal law enforcement order and forcefully imposed western idea of policing, which has been maintained and sustained by successive governments. This is a big question that begs for attention is; would state police solve the security challenges in Nigeria? This paper will attempt to examine the missing gap in Nigeria's security threat and concludes that there is need for constitutional and radical reforms for effective policing.

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ADVANCED ACADEMIC RESEARCH/ARTS, HUMANITIES AND EDUCATION, 2019

The increasing security challenges in Nigeria particularly as from 1999 have conditioned the clamor for State Police thereby igniting a national conversation on the subject. This paper using primary and secondary sources laced in a historical methodology makes a contribution to this on-going dialogue. It dissects the State Police thesis against the backdrop of its potency as an antidote to innumerous and escalating security challenges. Whilst disagreeing with the State Police thesis, it argues that though the Federal Police appears overwhelmed by the magnitude of internal security incongruities, the fundamental problem with the system is not necessarily its structure but the attitude of Nigeria Police personnel and the character of the elites in power. The paper insists that unless there is a restructuring of the attitude of the elites in power, the efficacy of the State Police antidote is doubtful. The peculiar historical, social and economic realities in Nigeria blight whatever promise State Police theoretically hold. Therefore, rather than enthrone State Police, a reformation or re-engineering of the Federal Police particularly its operations is advocated. It is hoped that this paper would help broaden policy options for strengthening the Nigeria Police.

Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 2014

Blood has been literally, flowing in the streets of Abuja, Kano, Bauchi, Kaduna, Suleja and Maiduguri. Lives have been lost and property worth millions, destroyed. Apparently, there is no end in sight for this ugly development. No Nigerian is insulated from bomb explosion. Churches, mosques and corporate offices are not spared. In Lagos former Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Alani Akinrinade, urged the government to find a solution, warning that Nigeria was about being assailed by urban guerilla. Across the country, the fear of Boko Haram sect has become the beginning of wisdom. The violence unleashed by Boko Haram has been perfectly complemented by armed robbery and ritual killings across the six geo political zones. Ethnic clashes and kidnapping are also rife. In Jos, capital of Plateau State, mass burial of victims of ethnic conflict led to more blood letting on the spot. Now members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) are rejecting postings to troubled spots with justification. On daily basis, there are cries of dependency and government appears to be helpless. Can the federal government restore security? What is responsible for all the sporadic bombings? Why has the North central and North East remained a troubled spot? These are puzzles that seem to have no answers. Just recently, governors were at a crossroads. Although, it is the north that is primarily under siege, southern governors could not turn their eyes away from the plight of their kinsmen who reside in these troubled spots. The Nigeria Governors Forum (NGE) proposed some measures. Taking a global look at the socio economic and political realities that may underlie insecurity, it suggested a sort of 'Marshal Plan' to tackle the trend. Some governors, lawmakers and opinion leaders also reiterated their clamour for state police. They highlighted the numerous assistance given to state police commands by governors, including donation of vehicles, uniforms, housing, guns, and even, bullets. He said it is illogical that the state governors, who are chief security officers, have no control over the police. Many reasons have been adduced for the state of insecurity ravaging the country. Some of them paled into conjunctures. But there is no evidence that government has got any lead as well. There is a monotony of assurances of normalcy from the Police Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammad Abubakar and Security Chiefs. To their consternation, the suicide bombers seem to have dwarfed security agents. This paper seeks to explore the limitations of state police as a panacea for insecurity challenges facing centralizing policing in Nigeria.

Journal of Business and Social Review in Emerging Economies

The success or otherwise of any police system lies in the institutional structure upon which the institution is framed. As a federation, there is need to stress for devolution of power through restructuring for effective police system. This is necessary giving the heightened insecurity and centralise nature of the police institution in the country. The over centralisation of policing has made the institution to be control and influence at the discretion of the political head as provided in section 214 of the 1999 constitution as amended. On the other hand, giving the political immaturity in Nigeria, decentralising the national policing to give way to state police also has its own implication of over beardedness, possible political influence of the governors against oppositions, poor funding and formalisation of political thugs and party supports at the detriment of the security business. In view of these therefore, effective police system will be achieved through constitutional amen...

NPSA SOUTHEAST PUBLICATION, 2019

It is doubtless that the wave of insecurity in the Nigerian state is alarming and disturbing. There are several security challenges which cut across the nooks and crannies of the country. Even though, the security of life and property are the primary purpose of government, as solidified in the 1999 Constitution as amended, that "the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of the government." This study argues that the Nigerian Police and allied agencies being the major security/law enforcement agencies have failed abysmally in their constitutional role, as there is now protection and securitisation of politicians and their regimes and politicisation of security by the police at the expense of national security. The study is harped on Marxist theory; longitudinal research design, documentary method of data collection and qualitative method of analysis. The study deciphered amongst others that the federal government has generally failed to tame and hold the police accountable amidst the recurrence and sudden increase of insecurity; it has rather continued to use the police as means of regime survival and intimidation of opposition within and without a political party/fold. Thus, public complaint mechanisms, internal police controls, and civilian oversight remain very weak, and largely ineffective as the ugly trend continues. The study recommends amongst others, that the Nigerian government in general and the police/security agencies' leadership in particular should thus address this structural deficit; follow through on reform initiatives, and implement effective police oversight and accountability in order to revert-back to their constitutional responsibility to protect lives and properties.

Within the framework elite theory, the paper critically examined the place of Nigeria police in the sustenance of democracy. The paper submits that no matter the level of investment and commitment into democracy, its future definitely can only be bright if state institutions such as the police are constantly involved in activities that protect democratic order. Given the catalog of challenges facing the police force, some steps such as: effective and special training in the area of human right, rule of law, the role of police in electoral process, removal of police attachment to politicians and political parties, employment of best practices in recruitment, attitudinal change and orientation of the members of the police force, should be taken in order to enhance the activities of the Nigeria police force towards democratization in Nigeria with a view of the oncoming 2015 general election.