DAWN, Media, and Security Experts Collaborate on State Police Blueprint for South West
The Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) has initiated a collaborative effort with security experts, media practitioners, and other stakeholders to design an operational framework for the establishment of state police. This initiative is part of measures to address the escalating cases of kidnapping, banditry, and other violent crimes in the South West region of Nigeria.
Stakeholders Meeting in Ibadan
At a stakeholders' meeting titled 'Foundational Imperatives for State Police in South West Nigeria,' held in Ibadan, participants emphasized that the creation of state police has become a national necessity. This urgency is driven by worsening security challenges across the country, which have highlighted the limitations of the current federal policing system.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Seye Oyeleye, Director-General of the DAWN Commission, stated that the gathering was convened in response to growing federal momentum towards state policing. He noted that President Bola Tinubu has prioritized this initiative since assuming office in 2023, with renewed advocacy intensifying in recent months.
Preparatory Work and Regional Template
Oyeleye explained that with a bill already before the National Assembly, the South West region resolved to begin preparatory work rather than wait for the formal establishment of state police. He stressed the importance of developing a guiding template that would shape how state police would operate across the six South West states, including Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, and Ekiti.
While acknowledging the likelihood of a national framework, Oyeleye emphasized the need to accommodate regional peculiarities. He warned against a uniform 'one size fits all' approach, which he described as inconsistent with Nigeria's federal structure. He defended the Nigeria Police Force, attributing its operational limitations largely to inadequate manpower, noting that about 450,000 officers are insufficient for effective policing in a country with over 200 million people.
Addressing Concerns and Future Plans
The framework being developed will be forwarded to South West governors to guide policy decisions, with Oyeleye expressing optimism that state policing could become operational by the first quarter of 2027. Addressing fears that governors might abuse state police structures, Oyeleye described such concerns as outdated. He cited the regional security outfit, Amotekun, which has operated since 2020 without evidence of misuse, as a positive example.
He added that both Amotekun and state police could function simultaneously within the region's security architecture, with flexibility for governors to redefine roles. This could include deploying Amotekun as forest rangers if necessary, to enhance security in rural and forested areas prone to criminal activities.
Expert Insights and Recommendations
Professor Isaac Olawale Albert of the Institute for Peace and Strategic Studies, University of Ibadan, argued that the debate should now focus on implementation rather than the desirability of state police. He warned that stakeholders must critically examine the weaknesses of the federal policing system to avoid replicating existing failures, urging a research-driven and analytical approach.
Albert also called for lessons from community-based and informal security initiatives to be integrated into the proposed structure to build public trust. Similarly, Adewale Adeoye, Executive Director of Journalists for Democratic Rights, emphasized that state policing must be people-centred and rooted in local realities.
Adeoye said security should involve citizens at every stage, from conception to implementation, and stressed the need for a South West policing model reflecting the region's unique crime patterns. He highlighted the importance of upholding transparency, integrity, and global standards, while also urging officers to demonstrate compassion and humane policing in protecting lives and critical assets.
Comprehensive Regional Template
The meeting attracted a diverse group of participants, including security professionals, retired senior police officers, academics, legal practitioners, and private sector representatives, with some joining virtually. Deliberations are expected to produce a comprehensive regional template that will guide the implementation of state police across the South West once enabling legislation is enacted by the National Assembly.
This collaborative effort underscores a proactive approach to enhancing security in the region, leveraging local expertise and stakeholder input to create a robust and effective policing framework tailored to the specific needs of the South West.
