“Gentlemen, get the thing straight once and for all. The Policeman isn’t there to create disorder, the police man is there to preserve disorder .”
“A functioning police state needs no police”.
State policing as the name implies has been defined as a police force under state authority rather than under the authority of a city or county in the state. It has also been defined as the police organised and maintained by a state as distinguished from those of a lower subdivision (as a city or county) of the state government. . State police should be differentiated from police state as they have different meanings.
A police state is a country where people’s freedom, especially to travel and express political opinions, is controlled by the government, with the help of the police. .
Wikipedia defines a police state as a state in which the government exercises rigid and repressive controls over the social, economic, and political life of the population.
Section 214 of the Nigerian Constitution establishes the Nigeria Police Force, which makes for a Federal police force for Nigeria. But considering the deteriorating situation of the security system in Nigeria especially the Nigerian police Force, various sectors have called for the establishment of the state police hence a decentralization of the Nigeria Police Force. However, it is not a settled issue as opinions vary and some groups are against the establishment of the state police.
Mersim Law Quest interviewed some Nigerians on this state police issue and their diverse opinions form the basis of this article. A choice few did not care whether state policing or federal police, as far as they know, it wouldn’t make any difference. They have lost hope in the Nigeria Police and nothing can be done about it.
Another group although very few believe and advocate for the state police system, saying that is what Nigeria needs. Mr Ekene Nwogbo an entrepreneur had this to say; state policing is a good idea because its easier to operate close systems, shorter processes because of less loops, error percentage and loop holes is less, you know your target. Focus is optimum; everything revolves around each other in an easy to manoeuvre manner, you know your system in and out, errors would be easy and quick to detect thus making the police serve better. Mr Sam Owojaiye is of the opinion that state policing is a good idea but it is complex and needs research but it’s definitely the way forward.
Just like Mr Sam, Miss Chinenyenwa Idam said she votes for state policing but the officers should be trained in the use of ICT and new advanced security system because crime is taking a digital dimension.
Also Mr Onyeka Ogugbue, an accountant had this to say; state policing is a good thing because they will go into the nooks and crannies of the communities as indigenes and security personnels to prevent crimes that ordinarily the federal police won’t be able to tackle instantly due to proximity. He reiterated that the idea is to expedite actions in the event of a crime or crime related issues, he cited the aluu killings as an example, that it would have been prevented if there was state police and also the different bomb blasts even with the presence of heavy security personnels around because they know the terrain more than the officers and know where to strike at a particular point in time. He concluded by saying crime may not be eliminated completely but can be reduced to the barest minimum; “so in my opinion, its a good thing o”. A retired security personnel (names withheld) with so much experience in the security sector had the following to say:
1. The police will know the terrain: that a police officer serving in his state will know all the nooks and crannies and will also know the people to meet for information that will aid better policing.
2. The people will know their police: when the people know their police officers they will trust them more and will be more comfortable to approach them for help and to give them information thus enhance efficient policing.
3. The police will try to compete and impress: there will be interstate competition between the different state police force(s), everyone would want to be cited as a good example.
4. Bribery and corruption will be minimized because the police officers would be known; nobody will like to be known as corrupt at home.
5. The police boss will report and take orders from the state governor, thus skipping the hurdle of paper pushing and associated delays.
6. The state governor will then appreciate and play his role as the chief security officer of the state.
7. That is the way it is done in other federations for instance the United states of America, India, Australia, South Africa, Britain.

Yet another advocate of state policing said that Nigeria with a population of about 160 million is too vast and can only be properly policed through state policing.
Also, state policing would reduce the rate of unemployment as more people would be recruited into the state police in proportion to the population of each state.
An immigration officer (names withheld) also votes for state policing but suggests there should still be a federal body that can step in when the state police cannot handle the situation just like the FBI of America. In his words, “step aside this is the FBI, it will be cool”.
DEMERITS OF STATE POLICE
The major argument on the opposing side is that Nigeria isn’t matured yet to practice state policing.
Dr Nnamdi, a medical practitioner had this to say; we are not yet matured politicians will hike jack it. State owned establishments are the most owed. The police will be made a private security firm to guard the high and mighty and secure politicians votes.
He further said that “Federal police system is best for now, our society is not operating on ideology yet, we are still at a sentimental stage not good for growth”.
A lawyer who pled to remain anonymous said aside the fear that politicians will use it to oppress their opponents, if the system fails or the state government is unable to pay or control them, then there is a huge risk of more sects like boko haram, massob etc being formed and this time they will be legally empowered.
A pharmacist and a business man, Mr Jonathan Amadi had this to say; “the issue of state policing might have some good sides but we don’t do anything right in this country. It will be hijacked by politicians and eventually lead to more chaos. It is easy to have a reform in one sector than in 37 centres”, he said.
Yet another security officer while disagreeing on the establishment of state police said we are not matured, our type of politics and politicians, religious and ethnic sentiments, illiteracy. He ended by saying it will lead to disintegtration of the nation instead of fostering peace and security.

Some other groups that disagree with the decentralization of the Nigeria police says States do not have the funds or the capabilities to handle state police. There are no good roads, no equipments, Nigeria doesn’t even have a data base, we do not know the people with criminal records, no correct Data of people that own arms and ammunitions, no good forensic labs. It will legalize thuggery, there will be oppression of the less privileged, thereby defeating the aim of democracy, it is the beginning of disintegration.

We are not taking sides in this article as both sides have made good points but we shall end with some questions:
*Who will the governors and commissioners of police report to, under what laws?
*How will the excesses be checked?
*What will be the basis for recruitment of new police officers?
*Why can’t we try Zonal police system first and see how it works out?
*If we keep saying, it’s not time, when will it ever be time, are we not just postponing the evil day?
* Are politicians not already hijacking the security system?
*How can we restore the dignity/integrity of the police system whether federal or state?

http://mersimlawquest..com/

Nice article.d cons outweigh d Pros.