Insecurity: State police are not the solution, says Lawyer Idam

Activist lawyer Maduabuchi Idam declared on Thursday that creating state police forces would not resolve Nigeria’s insecurity.

Idam cautioned that placing police under state governors’ control could endanger opposition figures, critics and those perceived as political enemies.

In a signed statement he wrote: “State policing is neither the desired solution nor a sustainable answer to Nigeria’s security challenges, given the prevailing mindset of much of the country’s political class, which is often characterized by power struggles and the pursuit of personal gain.”

He added that giving governors authority over police could threaten the rights of opposition voices and divert attention from genuine security concerns.

Idam also argued that state police under gubernatorial control would jeopardise free, fair and credible elections.

He said: “With state governors exercising direct control over law enforcement, the prospects for free, fair, and credible elections could be significantly undermined.”

He urged the president to recognise that not every policy proposal should be enacted; some ideas are better left for public debate.

Idam concluded: “In my view, state policing has the potential to create even greater security challenges than those Nigeria currently faces.”