Beyond the Policing Abracadabra: A Call for Devolved Security in Nigeria
One resists the invasion of armies; one does not resist the invasion of ideas. No army can withstand the strength of an idea whose time has come. Victor Hugo, the French philosopher, made this profound statement in 1852, and it rings true today in Nigeria's security discourse. The devolution of policing powers to subnational and local governments is long overdue, not as a radical departure but as a return to historical and functional norms.
Historical Context and Global Models
During the colonial era and the First Republic, Nigeria operated a devolved policing system. The Office of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) did not even exist until 1964, when Louis Edet became the first indigenous head of the Force. The British, who established the world's first modern policing system in London in 1829, avoided creating a centralized IGP because no such office exists in their own country. Instead, Britain relies on 43 independent territorial forces with largely positive results, where police answer to local boards accountable to voters, prioritizing community needs over party politics.
In Nigeria, systems like the 'Akodas' in the Western Region and the Native Authority Police in the North were dismantled by military-imposed centralization, leading to disastrous effects that continue to haunt the nation. Given the current insurgency and the country's vast, multicultural, multi-ethnic, and multi-religious landscape, securing territory from a single, centralized base is simply not working.
Learning from the United States
Those educated in the United States are aware that even university campuses maintain efficient policing systems. The U.S. utilizes the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for federal crimes and cross-border offenses, but there is no 'Inspector General of Police.' This model debunks the claim that devolving policing powers inevitably leads to tyranny by state governors. Common sense dictates that while risks exist, as with any system, robust oversight can mitigate them, just as legal avenues currently check the excesses of the Federal Police.
In a democracy, no policing system can exist without checks and balances. To suggest otherwise abandons democratic ideals. The history of executive overreach and police weaponization over the last fifty years, even under civilian regimes, underscores the need for accountability. In the UK, civil society organizations frequently file suits to hold police accountable, a practice that must be mirrored in a devolved Nigerian system.
The Arkansas Example and Federal Safeguards
The best-known example of federal intervention in a devolved system comes from the United States. In 1957, Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus used the state's National Guard to defy a U.S. Supreme Court ruling on school desegregation. President Dwight D. Eisenhower federalized the force to uphold constitutional law, demonstrating that the center retains ultimate authority to protect citizens' rights. This historical rebuttal shows that state policing does not lead to unchecked gubernatorial tyranny.
In Nigeria, similar safeguards are necessary. Just as the president must approach the National Assembly to proclaim a State of Emergency, legislative consent should be required before taking over a state police force to prevent partisan abuse. The success of this framework depends on the maturity and institutional development of the political establishment.
Modernizing Security and Community Intelligence
With security bills skyrocketing and borders porous, state policing has shifted from a suggestion to an absolute inevitability. The focus must now be on architecture, such as regionally devolved models like Amotekun, requiring specialized training and modern technology integration. The real win for state policing is putting intelligence gathering back in the community, where it belongs globally.
Effective intelligence begins at the grassroots, as seen in the First Republic with figures like Inspector Patrick Fynecountry, whose crime-busting exploits are legendary. Today, insurgents exploit the vacuum from weak grassroots intelligence, necessitating a modernized version of local vigilance. The flawed logic of centralized policing is inadequate for a 21st-century federation, urging a transition from the 'Nigeria Police Force' to a true 'Nigeria Police Service.'
May peace prevail in Nigeria as we embrace this necessary evolution in security governance.
