A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Oba Maduabuchi, has cautioned that the creation of state police may expose citizens to abuse of power if not properly structured, warning that it could become an instrument of oppression in the hands of state governors.
Maduabuchi made the remarks on Friday during an interview on Arise Television, as debate intensifies over proposals to amend the Constitution to allow for the establishment of state-controlled police forces.
President Bola Tinubu had earlier urged the National Assembly to begin working out modalities for constitutional amendments to incorporate state police as part of efforts to address Nigeria’s persistent security challenges.
Reacting to the proposal, Maduabuchi stressed that the establishment of a new policing structure should not be driven by public sentiment or political pressure.
“You do not establish a police force simply because people are angry or because others are calling for it,” he said, noting that such a critical institution must be carefully designed to avoid unintended consequences.
He warned that poorly funded state police formations could devolve into extortion-driven checkpoints rather than professional security outfits focused on protecting lives and property.
According to him, Nigeria’s current security challenges are not necessarily the result of the absence of state police, arguing that various regions already operate localized security outfits that complement federal policing efforts.
He cited the Western region’s Amotekun Corps, the Southeast’s forest guards, and the Civilian Joint Task Force operating in parts of the Middle Belt as examples of sub-national security initiatives working alongside conventional law enforcement agencies.
Maduabuchi maintained that while the conversation on restructuring Nigeria’s policing architecture is valid, safeguards must be put in place to prevent misuse and ensure accountability if state police are eventually established.
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