By Peace Udugba
A retired Assistant Inspector General of Police, Aare Tunji Alapini, has endorsed the proposed establishment of state police in Nigeria, saying fears of possible abuse should not stop the country from embracing reforms that could strengthen security and revive community policing.
Speaking on Wednesday during Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State, Alapini said calls for state police should be seen as an opportunity to improve the country’s security architecture rather than a source of concern.
According to the former police chief, Nigeria’s centralised policing system has not failed, but there is room for improvement.
“I’m not saying it has failed. It has not failed. But people are clamouring for things to be better. There is always room for improvement, and that is the way I look at state police,” he said.
Alapini argued that worsening insecurity, including terrorism, kidnapping, banditry and communal conflicts, requires fresh approaches, stressing that maintaining the status quo may no longer be sufficient.
He maintained that concerns over funding, training and accountability should not be used as reasons to reject the idea, noting that efforts should instead focus on making the police institution stronger.
The retired police officer identified community policing as one of the major benefits of state police, explaining that local recruitment and deployment would enhance intelligence gathering and help communities easily identify strangers and suspicious activities.
Drawing from his experience as former Commissioner of Police in Edo State, he cited the traditional “Edionwere” system, under which community leaders keep records of residents and newcomers, describing it as an example of grassroots security.
He said effective security would be easier to achieve if every ward and community took responsibility for monitoring activities within their areas and identifying potential threats before they escalate.
On fears that governors could misuse state police to target political opponents, Alapini acknowledged the concerns but insisted they should not hinder the implementation of a potentially beneficial reform.
He added that political interference allegations already exist under the current centralised system and expressed confidence that safeguards could be built into the proposed framework.
According to him, governors would not have sole authority over the appointment of state police commissioners, as such appointments would involve a state police commission and other screening mechanisms.
Alapini also expressed confidence that responsibilities between federal and state police structures could be clearly defined, with the federal police handling national issues and state police focusing on local security matters.
He further called for speedy prosecution of criminal cases and commended efforts by some state governments to tackle insecurity. He specifically praised measures reportedly introduced in Edo State, including plans for special courts to ensure swift trials of kidnappers and other violent offenders.
The retired police chief concluded by stressing that no security framework can succeed without active citizen participation, urging Nigerians to revive communal responsibility and become more vigilant about activities within their neighbourhoods.
