The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike has voiced opposition to the establishment of state police forces, citing apprehensions that such an arrangement would be susceptible to abuse by state governors.
During his time as governor of Rivers State, Wike was a vocal proponent of state police. He also believed that Nigerian institutions lacked the strength and independence to function effectively, being susceptible to undue influence.
In a media engagement in Abuja on Sunday, the minister expressed that his prior endorsement of state police might not be the most suitable solution at this time, hinting at a potential reconsideration of his position.
The minister expressed concern that creating state or community police forces could empower some governors to become autocratic rulers. He warned that these governors might exploit the police to persecute their political rivals, potentially leading to lethal consequences for those who oppose them, such as accusations of murder or armed robbery.
Wike noted that, “In Nigeria, what system do we run? Is Abuja different from Nigeria when you talk about the police? People have been recommending community policing and state police.
“Knowing where we are, and where we are from, if you allow that, so many people would not come out of their houses. So, I said let’s try it first and see how it works.
“But so many people said there’s no need to try, that we have seen that if they allow state policing today, nobody would oppose any state governor. It is either you would die for murder or for armed robbery. Our institutions are not such that are independent.”
The establishment of state police in Nigeria has been a contentious topic for many years. A significant number of governors strongly advocate for this change, believing it would empower them to enhance security within their respective states.
