State Police Could Enable Abuse of Power, Says Former Anambra Attorney-General
A former Attorney-General of Anambra State, Nnoruka Udechukwu, SAN, has warned that granting governors full control of state police would open the door to widespread abuse of power, political oppression, and insecurity, citing lessons from Nigeria’s history.
Speaking in an interview, Udechukwu argued that the debate over state police, though seemingly straightforward, has been complicated by what he described as politicians’ “inordinate desire to exercise absolute power.”
According to him, handing police forces directly to state governors would give them unchecked authority, with the risk of using security institutions to silence opposition.
He linked the issue to Nigeria’s past, recalling that during the country’s civil war, state-controlled police structures emboldened political leaders to confront the federal government militarily.
“States’ control over the police made it easy to initiate the civil war because they had the courage to confront the federal government with the force at their disposal,” Udechukwu said.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria stressed that even if Nigeria were to decentralize policing today, the same problems of intimidation, misuse, and political manipulation would persist unless strong checks and balances are put in place. He maintained that while commissioners of police currently report to governors, they remain within the federal command structure, which, in his view, helps to restrain excesses.
His remarks come at a time when the call for state police has grown louder across Nigeria, with proponents arguing that localized policing would enhance security and make law enforcement more responsive to community needs. Critics, however, fear that without robust oversight, governors may exploit state police for partisan advantage, deepening divisions and threatening national stability.
The issue continues to divide political leaders, security experts, and civil society groups, reflecting Nigeria’s struggle to balance local autonomy with the need for unity and accountability in its policing system.
