Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia has renewed his call for the establishment of state police, saying Nigeria should have embraced the system long ago to address the country’s worsening security challenges.
The governor said the growing wave of killings, kidnappings and other violent crimes across the country has shown that the existing policing structure is overstretched and requires support through the creation of state-controlled police forces.
Alia made his position known on Thursday during an interview on Arise Television, where he argued that state policing would improve security by allowing states to respond more quickly and effectively to threats within their territories.
According to him, governors and local authorities understand the security challenges in their states better than officials operating from the centre, making state police an important step toward improving public safety.
“State policing should have begun long before now. If we have our state police with the power to command and direct, it will be more beneficial,” he said.
The governor noted that the Nigeria Police Force is currently overburdened with responsibilities across the country’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
He added that while the military has played an important role in fighting terrorism and other forms of insecurity, soldiers do not always have sufficient knowledge of local communities and terrains.
According to him, security personnel recruited from within the states would have a better understanding of local languages, geography and community dynamics, making intelligence gathering and crime prevention more effective.
“So I think it is ideal. I know that the National Assembly has done some bit of that, and the State Assemblies are also playing their own role and making it a continuum of conversation,” Alia said.
He expressed confidence that ongoing discussions by lawmakers would address concerns raised by Nigerians over the proposed state police system.
The governor acknowledged that some people have expressed fears that state police could be abused by state governments for political purposes.
However, he said the ongoing constitutional review process provides an opportunity to introduce safeguards that will prevent abuse while ensuring the new security structure serves its intended purpose.
“It’s even going to be more improved on what people are thinking, the fears people are having, or the reservations they’re having on the establishment of the state policing,” he said.
Alia said he had supported the idea of state police long before it became a major national issue.
“I have been one of the first advocates of state policing way before the national conversation began,” he stated.
Drawing from Benue State’s experience, the governor said communities affected by repeated attacks understand the urgent need for faster and more effective security responses.
“As it is said, who feels it knows it all. For us in Benue State, we felt it, we know what it is, we understand insecurity, we understand what it means for some help, either to be on the way or little help that came our way.
“So the establishment of state police is something ideal that could have been done like yesterday,” he added.
Benue has remained one of the states most affected by insecurity in recent years, with repeated attacks on farming communities leading to loss of lives, destruction of property and the displacement of thousands of residents.
The state has experienced violence linked to armed herders, criminal gangs and other armed groups, with many communities calling for stronger security measures to protect lives and property.
The increasing security challenges across Nigeria have renewed calls for the decentralisation of policing.
Supporters of state police argue that governors, who are described by the Constitution as chief security officers of their states, should have greater control over security agencies operating within their jurisdictions.
They believe locally controlled police forces would improve intelligence gathering, reduce response time and strengthen collaboration between security agencies and local communities.
However, opponents have warned that state police could be misused by some governors to intimidate political opponents or interfere in elections.
They have therefore called for strong constitutional safeguards, independent oversight mechanisms and clear operational guidelines before any state police system is introduced.
The issue has remained a major topic during the ongoing constitutional amendment process at the National Assembly.
Both the Senate and the House of Representatives have continued to receive memoranda and submissions from governors, traditional rulers, civil society organisations, security experts and members of the public on the proposed reform.
Many state governments have expressed support for the proposal, arguing that the current centralized policing structure can no longer adequately address the country’s complex security challenges.
President Bola Tinubu has also indicated support for discussions on policing reforms, while several stakeholders have called for broader consultations to ensure any new arrangement protects human rights and strengthens national security.
For Benue State, where insecurity continues to affect farming activities, economic growth and the daily lives of residents, Alia believes the creation of state police is no longer an option but a necessity.
He maintained that giving states greater responsibility for internal security would complement the efforts of federal security agencies and help restore peace in communities that have suffered years of violence.