A retired Assistant Inspector General of Police, Aare Tunji Alapini, has urged Nigerians to support the proposed establishment of state police, saying fears of abuse should not stop the country from embracing a reform that could strengthen security and revive community policing.
Alapini, who spoke on Wednesday during an interview on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State, said every meaningful reform comes with uncertainties that can only be addressed through practical implementation.
The former police chief maintained that while the current centralised policing system had not failed, there was a need to explore alternatives that could improve security and policing at the grassroots.
“I’m not saying it has failed. It has not failed. But people are clamouring to see that things could be better. There’s always room for improvement in anything. So if there’s room for improvement, there’s room for state police,” he said.
Alapini argued that the country’s worsening security challenges, including terrorism, kidnapping, banditry and communal conflicts, require fresh approaches.
“The security situation in the country calls for doing same thing in a different manner and I think the introduction and the clamour for state police is a welcome development. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. If we explore it and see how it works, no matter what, we stand to benefit from it,” he stated.
He dismissed concerns over funding, training and accountability as reasons to reject the proposal, noting that such challenges had long affected the nation’s policing system.
“The issue of funding and lack of training or retraining has been part of the malaise that has been affecting the constitutional responsibility of policing in the country. Whether funding or no funding, we have to look at it from the angle of what can we do to make police solid,” he said.
Alapini identified community policing as one of the strongest arguments for state police, explaining that local recruitment and deployment would enhance intelligence gathering and help communities identify suspicious elements.
“Twenty years ago, if a stranger comes into a town, people walking around would notice that this man is a stranger and the community will watch him. That’s part of the things we have lost. Those are the things we want to gain with community policing,” he said.
Drawing from his experience as a former Commissioner of Police in Edo State, he cited the traditional Edionwere system, where community leaders keep records of residents and newcomers within their areas.
“When I was commissioner of police in Edo State, they have what we call the Edionweres. They are leaders in the community. If a new person comes onto a street, the person must be known by the Edionwere,” he explained.
The retired police boss said security would improve significantly if communities became more involved in monitoring activities within their wards.
“If you know the boundaries of your ward and you know everybody staying within that ward, by the time everybody puts their mind on this small issue, I’m telling you, this country will be the best for all of us to stay in,” he said.
On fears that governors could use state police to intimidate political opponents, Alapini acknowledged the concerns but insisted they should not prevent the country from exploring a potentially beneficial reform.
“Like I said earlier on, nothing ventured, nothing gained. Let us start first. If we see abuse, let us call that abuse to order,” he stated.
He further argued that governors would not have absolute control over the appointment of state police commissioners, noting that such appointments would be subject to scrutiny by a state police commission and other stakeholders.
“I don’t think the governor has been given the power alone to appoint the police. There’s going to be a state police commission from what I’m reading, who will sit down and decide. People will screen that individual like it’s a panel,” he said.
Alapini also expressed confidence that federal and state police structures could coexist effectively, with clearly defined responsibilities.
“Anything that has a federal thing will be handled by the federal police. Anything by the state police will be handled within the states, unless it is beyond the states,” he added.
The former AIG further called for stronger prosecution of criminal offenders, saying swift punishment remained a key deterrent to crime.
He commended efforts by some state governments to tackle insecurity and urged governors across the country to adopt measures that would ensure speedy trials for offenders.
According to him, security reforms can only succeed when citizens actively participate in safeguarding their communities and remain vigilant about activities within their neighbourhoods.
