State Police Must Protect Nigerians, Not Intimidate Them — Comrade Grace Ike

The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, FCT Council, Comrade Grace Ike, says the call for state police would improve community security, strengthen federalism and promote local accountability.

Ike made this known on Tuesday while delivering a speech at the 2nd Annual Distinguished Parliamentarian Lecture organised by the House of Representatives Press Corps.

The lecture focused on “The Imperative for State Police: Securing Communities, Strengthening Federalism.”

According to her, the centralised policing system had left several states and communities waiting too long for security responses, stressing that local police forces would be better positioned to understand and respond to the peculiar security challenges of their areas.

She said state police could respond more quickly to threats, prevent the escalation of conflicts and build stronger relationships with local communities.

“Policing from a single national centre has left many states and communities waiting for responses that arrive most times too late,” Ike said.

She noted that Nigeria’s diverse security realities required tailored policing strategies, adding that the security needs of riverine communities in the Niger Delta differed from those of metropolitan neighbourhoods in Lagos or farming communities in the Middle Belt.

The NUJ FCT chairman also said the creation of state police would ease the pressure on the Nigeria Police Force and allow for more specialised and regionally appropriate policing.
Ike, however, warned that state police must not be established without adequate safeguards, constitutional clarity and effective oversight.

She called for a constitutional amendment and clear legislation defining the jurisdiction, limits and relationship between state and federal police formations.

She further advocated national standards for recruitment, training and discipline, as well as the establishment of independent oversight bodies and civilian review mechanisms with powers to investigate abuses and enforce accountability.

The NUJ FCT chairman urged state governments to ensure sustainable funding for policing while instituting strong anti-corruption measures in procurement, recruitment and payroll management.

She stressed the need for shared intelligence systems, joint task forces and mutual-aid protocols, noting that criminal activities often crossed state boundaries.

“State police must be rooted in respect for human rights and community-policing principles so that they protect citizens rather than intimidate them,” she said.

Ike urged the media and civil society to investigate and explain proposals on state police, hold lawmakers and government officials accountable, and amplify citizens’ concerns and experiences.

She said the debate on state police should be inclusive, evidence-based and transparent, rather than a momentary political conversation.

“Our goal is not merely a change of structure; it is a change that delivers safety, trust and justice for Nigerians,” she added

She added that state police, if implemented with constitutional rigour, strong oversight, adequate resources and respect for human rights, could become a meaningful instrument for securing communities and deepening Nigeria’s federal democracy.