State Police is a Disaster Waiting to Happen, Opines Marwa

By 𝔸bdulrazak Tomiwa

Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA),Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (retd.), has voiced strong opposition to the creation of state police in Nigeria. 

He described the proposal as a “disaster waiting to happen,” warning that it could undermine national security rather than solve it.

Speaking at a public event, Marwa expressed fears that state governors would weaponize local police forces to suppress political opponents. He argued that the lack of institutional independence at the state level would lead to widespread abuse of power and the erosion of democratic freedoms.

The NDLEA boss also highlighted the financial burden of maintaining such forces. He questioned the capacity of many states to regularly pay salaries and provide modern equipment, noting that unpaid or poorly funded officers might resort to corruption or criminal activities to survive.

Marwa suggested that instead of creating new structures, the federal government should focus on strengthening the existing Nigeria Police Force.

He advocated for better funding, increased manpower, and the deployment of advanced technology to improve the efficiency of the current centralized system.

He further raised concerns about the potential for ethnic and communal clashes.

Marwa warned that state-controlled forces might be used to favour certain ethnic groups over others in regions with deep-seated communal tensions, potentially leading to localized civil unrest.

In conclusion, the former military governor urged stakeholders to tread with caution on the issue.

He maintained that while the security challenges are real, the decentralized model poses a greater risk to the country’s unity and long-term stability than the current challenges face.