Former Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Barak has stated that it is possible for Nigeria to successfully establish state police without allowing governors to misuse the institution, provided the legal framework includes strong safeguards and effective federal oversight.
Speaking on Thursday at the ARISE NEWS Townhall on State Police, Barak recognised worries that governors would use state police against political rivals, but he said that these worries could be allayed by correctly crafted laws.
He claims that decentralised policing will allow the Federal Government to intervene when the system is misused while also making security forces more responsive to local populations.
He said, “The worry that someone might try to use the fact that he has a state police for his own political ambitions and so on is a real issue and should be addressed.”
Barak contended that recruiting personnel from the specific communities they serve would fundamentally optimize law enforcement by capitalizing on local expertise, distinct cultural awareness, and organic intelligence gathering.
According to Barak, “When you mobilise and recruit the policemen from within the community, they will be much more sensitive. They will understand the norms and the practises, the religious space, and everything that relates to the people around them. It will be much more effective.”
Speaking further, he noted that the success of state police would depend on a detailed legal framework that clearly defines the relationship between state police authorities and the Federal Government.
Barak also proposed the creation of a federally controlled rapid deployment police unit that could support state police whenever they face security challenges beyond their operational capacity.
Barak expressed optimism that the approach might succeed if local accountability is matched with strict federal monitoring, even though he noted that adopting state enforcement would bring obstacles.
Backstory…
The renewed debate over state police has gathered momentum amid Nigeria’s worsening security crisis, with governors, traditional rulers and security experts increasingly arguing that the country’s centralised policing structure has struggled to contain rising violence.
In recent months, deadly attacks by bandits, terrorists and armed herders have continued across Benue, Plateau, Borno, Zamfara, Katsina and other states, while kidnappings for ransom have spread to previously safer communities.
“It could be weaponised” — Peter Obi
Meanwhile, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress ahead of the 2027 elections, Peter Obi, has called for the implementation of state police to be delayed until after the next general election.
The former Anambra State governor raised concerns that the proposed policing structure could be politicised and misused if introduced before the polls.
Obi made this known in a post on X on Friday, days after the Nigerian Senate passed a constitutional amendment bill to establish state police services across the country.
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