The Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Chief Anthony Ojukwu, has called for the urgent establishment of State Police in Nigeria, saying decentralised policing would improve security, reduce response time and strengthen the protection of citizens’ rights.
Ojukwu made the call on Tuesday in Port Harcourt during a panel session at the 66th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), themed “Beyond Limits.”
He identified delayed response to security threats as one of the major weaknesses of Nigeria’s centralised policing system, stressing that citizens should not continue to live in fear while waiting for security interventions.
“If you don’t have State Police, you can never have adequate security. We have over 200 million people in Nigeria with far less number of policemen to police them. The response time is so long that we only live by God’s grace,” he said.
The NHRC boss explained that State Police would enable law enforcement agencies to respond more swiftly to security threats, noting that officers operating at the state and local levels would have better knowledge of their communities, terrain and peculiar security challenges.
“With State Police, the governors will have the wherewithal to respond quickly. The police will be more effective because they know the terrain; they know the people,” he stated.
However, Ojukwu cautioned that decentralisation of policing must be accompanied by strong human rights safeguards, accountability mechanisms and independent oversight to prevent abuse of power.
He warned that without adequate safeguards, State Police could be exploited for political repression, unlawful arrests, torture, intimidation and other violations of fundamental rights.
“We must insist that when the National Policing Bill comes, it must be well drafted. There must be a board that runs it. There must be oversight. Otherwise, it will become another problem,” he cautioned.
According to him, effective policing should not be measured solely by the ability of security agencies to arrest suspects, but also by their commitment to human dignity, due process, the rule of law and fundamental human rights.
He urged lawyers and citizens to remain vigilant and demand accountability from security agencies, particularly in cases involving arrests and the exercise of police powers.
“Lawyers should be the people to insist on the right thing to do. If the police is going to arrest anybody, insist on the right procedure. Don’t let them abuse power. We have to watch them,” he said.
Ojukwu maintained that security and human rights are not competing objectives, stressing that sustainable security can only be achieved through policing anchored on legality, professionalism, accountability and respect for citizens’ rights.
He lamented that persistent insecurity and delayed security responses had weakened public confidence in government institutions, leaving many Nigerians feeling that their safety depended more on chance than on an effective security system.
“Our people live by God’s grace because the system is not working. That must change,” he said.
The NHRC Executive Secretary said Nigeria must therefore move beyond an overstretched policing structure that is often unable to respond adequately to local security realities.
“We cannot continue with a system where only a few police officers are expected to secure millions. It is time to go beyond limits and give Nigerians the security they deserve; securely, effectively and accountably,” Ojukwu said.
