State-by-State: How ready is Northern Nigeria for state police?

The proposed establishment of state police has emerged as one of Nigeria’s most ambitious constitutional reforms in decades, promising to decentralise policing and strengthen grassroots security.

An investigation by BusinessDay across Northern Nigeria, however, shows that while many states welcome the proposal as a potential game changer, its implementation will depend largely on how effectively they overcome funding constraints, political interference, ethnic and religious divisions, weak institutions and the challenge of coordinating with federal security agencies.

From Kano to Plateau, Kogi, Kaduna, Kwara, Niger, Katsina, Benue, Bauchi, Borno and Adamawa, stakeholders agree that locally controlled policing could improve intelligence gathering, response time and community engagement. Yet, they also caution that without constitutional safeguards and independent oversight, state police could become vulnerable to political manipulation and deepen existing social fault lines.

Security analysts argue that Northern Nigeria represents the biggest test for decentralised policing because the region faces varying security threats, including insurgency, terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, communal violence and farmer-herder conflicts.

Kano: Existing Structure Gives State an Early Advantage

Among Northern states, Kano appears institutionally better positioned to establish state police.

Abdulsalam Yusuf, a legal practitioner, said the state’s Neighbourhood Security Watch already provides an operational framework that could easily be transformed into a statutory state police organisation through legislation.

According to him, the existing outfit has trained personnel, community networks and an administrative structure capable of reducing the transition period.

He, however, identified political interference as Kano’s biggest challenge, warning that governors could misuse state police without independent oversight and constitutional checks.

Muhammad Wakili, a retired Commissioner of Police, echoed similar concerns, saying recreating a decentralised police system without learning from the excesses of the defunct Native Authority Police would amount to repeating history.

Plateau: Political Commitment Meets Complex Social Reality

Plateau has emerged as one of the strongest advocates of state police.

Naanlong Daniel, Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, said lawmakers were prepared to support the constitutional amendment whenever it reaches the state legislature.

He believes decentralised policing would improve intelligence gathering and facilitate quicker responses to recurring attacks on rural communities.

The state’s Advisory Committee on State Police, chaired by retired Deputy Inspector General of Police Habila Joshak, has also commenced consultations with lawmakers and security stakeholders.

Despite the political will, analysts say Plateau’s long history of ethno-religious conflicts means recruitment, deployment and promotions must reflect the state’s diversity.

Chris Kwaja, a professor at Adamawa State University, argued that accountability, sustainable funding and collaboration among government institutions, traditional rulers and civil society would determine the success of state policing.

Kogi: Prepared but Requires Delicate Ethnic Balance

Kogi has spent years strengthening its local security architecture.

Kingsley Femi Fanwo, Commissioner for Information, said the state’s investments have positioned it to integrate seamlessly into a decentralised policing framework.

Government officials believe state police would improve grassroots intelligence and complement federal security agencies.

However, Joseph Odunayo warned that Kogi’s ethnic diversity could create distrust if recruitment appears to favour one of the state’s major ethnic groups.

Similarly, Idris Miliki Abdul stressed that adequate funding, political commitment, civic education and respect for the rule of law would determine the effectiveness of the proposed policing system.

Kaduna: Security Challenges Reinforce Demand

Years of banditry, kidnappings and communal violence have strengthened calls for state police in Kaduna.

Supporters argue that officers recruited from local communities would possess better knowledge of difficult terrain, local languages and criminal networks than personnel posted from outside the state.

However, analysts caution that Kaduna’s religious and ethnic diversity requires strong institutional safeguards to ensure professionalism and prevent sectional policing.

Kwara and Niger: Existing Community Security Models

Unlike states battling insurgency, Kwara has focused on preventive security through collaboration among security agencies, traditional rulers, religious leaders and local communities.

Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has consistently strengthened community policing initiatives, creating what observers describe as a solid foundation for state policing.

In neighbouring Niger State, Mohammed Umaru Bago has invested significantly in surveillance technology, patrol vehicles and logistics while strengthening collaboration with hunters, vigilantes and traditional institutions.

According to security expert Isah Lapai, maintaining effective coordination with federal security agencies will remain critical because of persistent banditry and cross-border criminal activities.

Katsina: Local Intelligence Seen as Key

Security experts believe Katsina’s prolonged battle against armed banditry demonstrates the urgent need for community-based policing.

They argue that officers recruited from local communities would possess better knowledge of forests, border settlements and indigenous languages, thereby strengthening intelligence gathering.

However, stakeholders insist that tackling heavily armed criminal groups will still require federal support, sophisticated equipment and specialised counter-terrorism capabilities.

Borno: Years of Counter-Insurgency Provide Strong Foundation

Borno presents perhaps the strongest argument for state police because of its prolonged fight against Boko Haram insurgents.

For years, Babagana Zulum, the governor, has invested billions of naira in operational vehicles, communication equipment and logistics for security agencies despite lacking constitutional control over policing.

Stakeholders argue that these investments demonstrate the state’s readiness to manage its own police structure.

Abubakar Mohammed Kareto, a public affairs analyst, said over a decade of relying almost entirely on a centralised federal security approach has failed to produce the desired results.

According to him, state policing would institutionalise community-based recruitment by drawing personnel familiar with local geography, languages and cultural dynamics.

He noted that the Civilian Joint Task Force already provides an operational foundation upon which a professional state police service could be developed.

Kareto added that state policing would improve accountability, accelerate responses to attacks and strengthen public confidence across Borno, Yobe and the wider North-East.

Adamawa: Funding and Operational Clarity Critical

Stakeholders in Adamawa support the proposal but insist that implementation must be carefully designed.

Maxwell Duku said Nigerians still know little about the proposed legislation because the bill has received limited public scrutiny.

He advocated community-based recruitment, arguing that officers should serve within their local government areas to maximise familiarity with local security challenges.

Duku also expressed concerns over funding, personnel welfare and the need for clear operational boundaries between federal and state police.

He argued that terrorists and bandits already possess sophisticated weapons, making it necessary for state police to receive adequate equipment and clearly defined operational mandates.

Similarly, Titus Takodoba, a social protection specialist, described state police as a practical response to Nigeria’s growing security challenges.

He said integrating vigilante groups into a formal policing structure could strengthen community security but warned that transparent appointments, operational independence and professional training would determine public confidence.

Benue: Existing Security Investments Boost Readiness

Benue State has also thrown its weight behind the proposed reform.

Hyacinth Alia, the governor, described the National Assembly’s passage of the State Police Bill as a bold step towards strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture.

Speaking through his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, Alia said the legislation recognises the need for a more responsive policing system capable of addressing the peculiar security realities facing individual states.

He noted that his administration has already invested heavily in security through the provision of more than 150 operational vehicles, 600 motorcycles, the establishment of the Benue State Civil Protection Guards and the Anyam Nyor Joint Task Force.

According to him, those initiatives have improved security and facilitated the gradual return of peace to several communities affected by violent attacks.

The governor maintained that with adequate constitutional safeguards, accountability mechanisms and independent oversight, state police would complement existing security agencies, improve intelligence gathering and ensure quicker responses to threats.

Bauchi: Forest Guards Could Support Future State Police

Bauchi is also strengthening community-based security structures ahead of any constitutional changes.

The state recently graduated 105 specially trained Forest Guards under a security initiative coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser.

Umar Aliyu, Chairman of the Bauchi State Vigilante and Forest Security Services, said the programme was designed to improve intelligence gathering and strengthen protection of forests frequently exploited by armed criminal groups.

He disclosed that the state has recruited more than 2,000 personnel under its Vigilante and Forest Security Services to reinforce security operations across vulnerable communities.

Governor Bala Abdulkadir Muhammad has also reaffirmed the state’s commitment to strengthening grassroots security through investments in local security architecture.

Security experts believe the initiative could provide Bauchi with an important foundation should state police become operational.

Regional Challenges

Despite varying levels of preparedness, stakeholders identified common obstacles likely to determine whether state police succeeds across Northern Nigeria.

These include sustainable funding, merit-based recruitment, independent policing commissions, professional training, operational autonomy and protection from political interference.

Jamilu Charanchi, National Coordinator of the Coalition of Northern Groups, warned against allowing governors to exercise unchecked control over future state police formations.

He proposed independent state policing commissions comprising representatives of the judiciary, civil society, traditional institutions and other non-partisan stakeholders to oversee recruitment, promotions, deployment and discipline.

The debate has also received support from the Forum of Progressive Speakers of State Legislatures.

Haruna Aliyu Dangyatin, Chairman of the forum and Speaker of the Jigawa State House of Assembly, described the State Police Bill as a landmark reform capable of transforming Nigeria’s security architecture.

According to him, decentralised policing would bridge long-standing gaps in intelligence gathering and rapid response to banditry, terrorism, kidnapping and communal conflicts.

Dangyatin said APC-controlled state legislatures were prepared to fast-track ratification and enact legal frameworks reflecting the unique security realities of their respective states while ensuring adequate oversight and accountability.

Ultimately, the BusinessDay investigation shows that Northern states are united in acknowledging the limitations of Nigeria’s centralised policing structure but differ considerably in their institutional readiness for decentralised policing.

While Kano, Plateau, Borno, Bauchi, Benue, Kogi, Kwara and Niger have already developed varying community-based security structures that could ease the transition, every state surveyed faces the same fundamental challenge—creating a police service that is locally accountable without becoming politically controlled.

Whether state police ultimately transforms Nigeria’s security architecture or repeats the shortcomings of the past will depend less on constitutional amendments than on the quality of institutions established to guarantee professionalism, transparency, inclusiveness, adequate funding and operational independence.