State Police: Lawyer Oshoma warns against giving governors excessive control 

Legal Expert Advocates for State Police in Nigeria, Cautions Against Centralized Control

LAGOS, Nigeria — Legal practitioner Liborous Oshoma has expressed his support for the establishment of state police in Nigeria, deeming it a necessary measure in response to the country’s escalating security challenges.

However, Oshoma raised concerns about the potential for abuse of power if governors are granted unilateral control over this proposed security structure. He highlighted that such authority could lead to intimidation of political opponents and manipulation during elections.

“The powers to appoint, discipline, and fund state police officers should not rest solely with governors,” Oshoma stated. He proposed the formation of an independent body tasked with overseeing the recruitment, discipline, salaries, and operational standards of state police to ensure accountability and mitigate political interference.

While acknowledging that governors are recognized as the chief security officers of their respective states, Oshoma emphasized that this should not imply that security agencies are wholly accountable to them. Concentration of control, he argued, may lead to abuses that could undermine public trust in the system.

Oshoma also suggested establishing a State Police Commission, which would include representatives from civil society organizations, professional associations, the media, and other stakeholders, rather than relying solely on individuals appointed by governors.

Despite the apprehensions surrounding state policing, he maintained that the deteriorating security conditions across the nation solidify the case for a decentralized policing approach. Local police forces, he asserted, would enhance intelligence gathering, improve response times to threats, and bolster community-oriented security initiatives.

Implementing state police would necessitate constitutional amendments, particularly to sections that currently recognize only the Nigeria Police Force as the authorized national policing body.

In closing, Oshoma urged lawmakers and relevant stakeholders to develop safeguards aimed at preventing misuse of power while ensuring that state police effectively tackle Nigeria’s pressing security issues.

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