Security experts support state police, urge intelligence‑led crime‑fighting.

Security experts have endorsed the proposed establishment of state police forces, urging an intelligence‑led policing approach, technological advancement, and a thorough overhaul of Nigeria’s security framework to address the nation’s escalating insecurity.

At the 2nd International Hybrid Conference 2026, hosted by the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Calabar and themed “Insecurity and National Development: Is the Nigerian State at a Crossroads?”, Cross River State Police Commissioner Rashid Afegbua hailed the Senate’s approval of the State Police Bill as a historic milestone for Nigeria’s security and governance structures.

Afegbua said the bill marks a bold move toward deepening genuine federalism and tackling Nigeria’s mounting security challenges.

He called for proactive, intelligence‑led, and technology‑driven policing, proposing the creation of dedicated state cybercrime and digital evidence units to bolster investigations and support security operations.

The commissioner urged routine training for officers in digital evidence collection, preservation, and analysis, and called for enhanced collaboration among security agencies to improve intelligence sharing and coordinated crime responses.

He emphasized that sustainable security depends on the joint efforts of government, institutions, and citizens, rather than on law enforcement alone.

Keynote speaker Air Vice Marshal Adebayo Gabriel Kehinde identified poor governance, poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, and competition over natural resources as key drivers of insecurity in Nigeria.

He urged increased investment in intelligence gathering, surveillance systems, data analytics, and other digital technologies to strengthen early warning and operational effectiveness.

Lead discussant and former Special Adviser on Security to the Cross River State Governor, Mr. Rekpene Bassey, noted that current counter‑terrorism strategies have proven insufficient.

He urged authorities to adopt more proactive, intelligence‑driven approaches tailored to evolving security threats.