Security analysts, legal practitioners, academics, and residents across Anambra, Ebonyi, and Enugu States say the creation of State Police could significantly curb crime, provided its powers, funding structure, and oversight mechanisms are clearly defined.

Speaking separately to the News Agency of Nigeria, the stakeholders argued that decentralised policing would only succeed if jurisdictions are properly outlined, safeguards are entrenched, and political interference is curtailed.

An Ebonyi-based analyst, Benjamin Ibe, said a state-controlled police system would strengthen intelligence gathering, improve response time, and build trust between security operatives and local communities. He stressed that operational boundaries must be clearly spelt out to prevent friction with the federal police.

According to him, crime control works best when enforcement authority and territorial limits are unambiguous, adding that clarity would reduce overlap and institutional rivalry.

Another analyst, Sylvester Okereke, described State Police as critical to addressing Nigeria’s deepening security problems and improving governance. He noted that accountability would be enhanced if the force is sustainably funded and insulated from partisan control.

Okereke said officers recruited locally would understand community dialects, culture, and terrain, giving them a tactical advantage. However, he proposed joint supervision by federal and state authorities to prevent abuse.

A security expert, Anselem Ede, expressed strong reservations, warning that under Nigeria’s current political climate, State Police could become an instrument of intimidation rather than public safety.

He cautioned that governors might hijack the force to harass opponents and dissenting voices, predicting clashes between state and federal authorities if independence and checks are not guaranteed. Ede argued that Nigeria would need to adapt a model similar to that of the United States, with clearly autonomous tiers of policing, otherwise the system could devolve into a drain on public funds and a tool for repression.

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Residents of Nsukka in Enugu State also weighed in, saying that State Police, if properly managed, could greatly improve the protection of lives and property.

A senior lecturer in Political Science at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Dr Chinedu Ejezie, said recruiting indigenes would enhance effectiveness, as local officers understand the social dynamics and security patterns of their states.

Ejezie noted that crimes could be detected early, suspects tracked more easily, and escape routes closed off due to officers’ familiarity with the environment. He maintained that clearly defined rules of engagement between federal and state police would prevent operational conflict.

However, he shared concerns that some governors might misuse the force against political rivals.

A retired police officer, Anthony Nnadi, urged the Federal Government to fast-track the process, arguing that Nigeria’s security challenges would persist without decentralised policing.

He cited countries such as the United States, Britain, and Germany, where federal, state, and local police work together to maintain internal security. Nnadi said intelligence sharing and collaboration would improve significantly under a State Police system, adding that disciplinary frameworks would address any jurisdictional breaches.

In Enugu, human rights lawyer Olu Omotayo described State Police as a valuable addition to Nigeria’s security architecture, insisting that it would not automatically lead to abuse if properly regulated.

Omotayo, who heads the Civil Rights Realisation and Advancement Network, said the force should complement federal efforts and operate strictly within a legal framework that protects fundamental rights. He called for a broader restructuring of Nigeria’s security system, noting that repeating the same approach would not yield improved outcomes.

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Similarly, the Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Enugu Branch, Venatus Odoh, said State Police was long overdue, arguing that effective policing requires familiarity with local terrain and communities.

Odoh said decentralisation would reduce the current police force’s shortcomings, including excessive central control from Abuja and exploitative tendencies. He advocated state-level police forces regulated by an independent Police Service Commission.

Also speaking, Ambrose Igboke, Chairman of the Enugu State chapter of the Public Affairs Analysts of Nigeria, said Nigeria urgently needs a highly decentralised policing system to tackle widespread insecurity.

He criticised the current arrangement where police operations across 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory are managed from Abuja, leaving governors with limited control. According to him, crime is inherently local and requires leadership on the ground.

Igboke added that State Police would allow governors to train and fund officers based on specific security needs, dismissing fears of conflict with federal authorities.

In Anambra, legal practitioner Stanley Okafor urged caution, warning against granting state governors absolute control over State Police.

Okafor said any enabling law must include provisions for federal oversight to prevent abuse of power, especially given what he described as a history of unconstitutional conduct by some governors.

He argued that without strong checks, State Police could further weaken democracy, pointing to governors’ dominance over local government finances despite judicial and institutional interventions.

Okafor referenced Section 214(1) of the 1999 Constitution, which establishes the Nigeria Police Force as the only recognised police authority, noting that constitutional amendments would be required to accommodate State Police.

He added that although Section 215(4) empowers governors to give directives to Commissioners of Police, those directives can be referred to the Federal Government for clarification, limiting state control.

According to him, these constraints fuel the push for State Police as a complementary force to address Nigeria’s growing security challenges.