Nigeria Does Not Need State Police, Says NSCDC Former Chieftain

By Frank Oshanugor

As the quest for the creation of State Police Forces in Nigeria gathers momentum with the House of Representatives already debating a Bill in

that respect, a former Commandant of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) Dr. Nnamdi Okonkwo has emphatically declared that Nigeria does not need State Police.

In an exclusive interview with Atlanticnewsonline on Thursday, Okonkwo who is currently a security consultant and Managing Director of Boyson Nigeria

Limited said what President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration should do to stem the tide of insecurity in the country is to transfer every police personnel to his or her local government area in his or her state of origin.

He further advised that the Federal Government should develop, expand and consolidate on community policing already introduced by the Nigeria Police Force.

He explained that by transferring every police personnel who already has specific roles, duties, functions, relevance and justification of service abinitio; to his or her local government area, to continue as such, it would be easier to identify and go after the criminal elements operating in the areas as they would be very familiar with the terrain, region and locality, to Wit.

The former Commandant noted that given the political immaturity of many Nigerian politicians, the existence of State Police may become an “instrument” and subject of abuse in the states, given that the State

Governors may use the state police authority and system, as tools against their political opponents. Any such suggestions for state Police creation should not be allowed, for now,” he advised.