The Inspector General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, has expressed his opposition to the creation of State Police, asserting that Nigeria is not prepared for such a development. Egbetokun shared his stance at a one-day dialogue on state policing, themed ‘Pathways to Peace: Reimagining Policing in Nigeria’ on Monday.
He argued that the establishment of state police would intensify ethnic tensions and result in divided loyalties within the states. Represented by AIG Ben Okolo, Egbetokun expressed concerns about the potential for multiple command structures in the states and the likelihood of state governors exploiting state police for political gain.
He cautioned that this could lead to power abuse and human rights violations, as well as conflicts in jurisdiction. The IGP emphasized the need for a unified police force to maintain order and security, rather than creating separate state-controlled police forces that could potentially exacerbate existing issues.