Wike changes stance on state police, says governors would abuse powers

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has changed his stance on creation of state police in Nigeria, saying governors might abuse the powers bestowed on them.

Social commentaries on state police continue to dominate public discourse with some governors and regional socio-political groups like Afenifere and Ohanaeze Ndigbo saying it would curb menacing trend of kidnapping, banditry and sundry crimes.

Already, there are state-owned security outfits in about 23 states like the Civilian Joint Task Force in Borno State, the Amotekun Corps in the South-West geopolitical zone, Ebube Agu in the South-East, Benue Guards in the North Central State, Community Protection Guards in Zamfara, Community Watch Corps in Katsina, the Neighbourhood Watch in Plateau, state-backed vigilante outfits in Niger and Bauchi, amongst others.

However, these outfits have been handicapped in their operations due to a number of factors including lack of license to bear assault rifles and superior weapons to confront deadly insurgents and criminals but governors are upbeat that with a constitutional backing, these outfits will live up to their full potential.

To this end, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and governors of the 36 states mid-February 2025, agreed on state police as a method to curb the escalating security challenges in the country.

In December 2024, Uba Sani, governor of Kaduna, says 36 state governments have submitted their reports on the creation of state police to the national economic council (NEC).

He said state policing would serve as a crucial step towards improving security across the country.

The Kaduna governor added that the police, the army, and other relevant security agencies do not have enough personnel to cover all the states.

“That is the reason why most of us agreed that the establishment of state police in Nigeria is the way forward to address the problem of insecurity in the country,” he said.

“So, today one of the topics of discussion at the NEC meeting is the update on the creation of the state police.

“And I can say here that from what is available, virtually most of the states are in agreement with the establishment of state police in Nigeria.”

Speaking during a media chat on Sunday, Wike said the adoption of state or community policing would birth autocratic governors in several states.

“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,” he said.

“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 former governor said his previous support for state police does not necessarily mean it is still the right decision today.

“The mere fact that I supported state police [when I was governor], if I was wrong, I was wrong. If I was right, I was right,” he said.

“What we are saying is that our institutions are not strong to be independent of manipulation by the system.”

During his first term as governor, Wike assented to a bill establishing the neighbourhood safety corps.

Some of the functions of the corps included the detection of crime, arrest of offenders with or without a warrant, and bearing arms in the performance of their duties, among others.