By Chibuike Nwabuko
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) ‘ – 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 decentralising policing is critical to improving security, reducing response time and strengthening the protection of citizens’ rights.
Ojukwu made the call on Tuesday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, while speaking during a panel session at the 66th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), themed “Beyond Limits,” the statement signed by Fatimah Agwai Mohammed
Director, Corporate Affairs and External Linkages
National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) said.
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.
According to the NHRC Executive Secretary, State Police would enable law enforcement agencies to respond more rapidly to security threats, as officers operating at the state and local levels would have better knowledge of the terrain, communities and specific 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.
While advocating decentralisation, Ojukwu stressed that the establishment of State Police must be accompanied by strong human rights safeguards, accountability mechanisms and independent oversight.
He warned against the possibility of a decentralised policing system being exploited for political repression, unlawful arrests, torture, intimidation and other violations of citizens’ 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.
Ojukwu emphasised that effective policing should not be measured solely by the ability of security agencies to apprehend suspects, but also by their commitment to human dignity, due process, the rule of law and fundamental rights.
He therefore urged lawyers and citizens to remain vigilant and demand accountability from security agencies, particularly in the enforcement of citizens’ rights.h“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.
The NHRC boss stressed that security and human rights are not competing objectives, arguing that sustainable security can only be achieved when policing is anchored on legality, professionalism, accountability and respect for fundamental rights.
He noted that persistent insecurity and delayed security responses had weakened public confidence in state institutions and left 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.
Ojukwu said Nigeria must move beyond an overstretched policing structure that is insufficiently responsive 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,” he concluded.
