Nyesom Wike, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has kicked against the establishment of state police, saying that it would be abused by the governors.
Wike, a frontline advocate of state police during his tenure as governor of Rivers State, argued that Nigeria does not have strong institutions independent of manipulation.
Wike made these remarks during a media chat in Abuja on Sunday, saying that his previous support for state police does not necessarily mean it is still the right decision today.
He argued that the establishment of state or community policing would lead to autocracy in several states.
The minister stated that governors would use the institution to witch-hunt opponents, adding that you would be killed for murder or armed robbery if you oppose the governor.
He said, “In Nigeria, what system do we run? Is Abuja different from Nigeria when you talk about the police? People have been recommending community policing and state police.
“Knowing where we are, and where we are from, if you allow that, so many people would not come out of their houses. So, I said let’s try it first and see how it works.
“But so many people said there’s no need to try, that we have seen that if they allow state policing today, nobody would oppose any state governor. It is either you would die for murder or for armed robbery. Our institutions are not such that are independent.”
The clamour for state police has been a major issue in the country over the years, with many governors arguing that it will enhance security in their domains.
In December 2024, 36 governors submitted a report backing the establishment of state police to the National Economic Council, according to Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna.
