Human rights lawyer, Barrister Niyi Aborisade [BANA], on Sunday called for a thorough scrutiny of the proposed legal framework for the establishment of state police, maintaining that the benefits of decentralised policing outweigh the potential risks.

Aborisade, who spoke with The Guardian while reacting to the ongoing debate over the proposed creation of state police, acknowledged concerns that some state governors could abuse the outfit for political purposes but argued that such fears should not derail the initiative.

The governorship aspirant in Oyo State in 2027 said recent calls for the implementation of state police had generated mixed reactions, noting that suggestions that its establishment be deferred until after the next general elections were understandable.

“I don’t think those raising concerns are opposed to state police. The position that its implementation should be delayed until after the elections is reasonable, considering that some over-ambitious governors may attempt to use state police as an instrument of oppression against political opponents or perceived enemies,” he said.

Despite the concerns, Aborisade maintained that the advantages of state policing far outweigh its disadvantages.
“Having carried out a balancing exercise on the subject matter, I am of the opinion that both the federal and state governments, as well as the Nigerian people, stand to benefit from the establishment of state police,” he said.

According to him, state police would complement the efforts of the overstretched Nigeria Police Force in tackling crime and insecurity across the country.

He added that the initiative would also create employment opportunities for residents of various states, while improving intelligence gathering and community policing because officers would be more familiar with their local environments.

“The indigenes who serve in the state police will know the terrain very well and will be better connected to their communities, thereby making policing more effective,” he said.

Aborisade argued that since governors are constitutionally recognised as the chief security officers of their states, it was logical for them to exercise operational control over state police formations rather than leaving such outfits under the authority of the Inspector-General of Police.
According to him, placing state police under the control of state governments would strengthen efforts to combat crime and improve internal security.

He, however, stressed the need for adequate legal safeguards to prevent abuse of the proposed security architecture.
“It is necessary to ensure that the framework for the establishment of state police is thoroughly scrutinised to guarantee accountability and prevent misuse,” he said.