National Security and the Imperativeness of State Police in Nigeria: Problems and Prospects

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume III, Issue XI, November 2019 | ISSN 2454–6186

National Security and the Imperativeness of State Police in Nigeria: Problems and Prospects

Nnaji, Ejike Sylvester¹, Ojiego, Chinemerem Winifred²

 ¹Department of Political Science and International Relations, Godfrey Okoye University, Thuinkers Corner, Enugu State, Nigeria
²Department of History, International Studies and Diplomacy, Godfrey Okoye University, Thinkers Corner, Enugu State, Nigeria

Abstract – More recently, there has been an ongoing clamour for the establishment of state police in Nigeria. This, however, is a sharp reaction to the increased spate of crimes and violence in the country, notably the activities of killer herdsmen, BokoHaram insurgents, banditry, kidnapping and other crimes that has been going on unabated. This paper therefore investigates whether the establishment of state police will enhance Nigeria’s national security. The study is anchored on strategic theory as its framework of analysis. It also made use of documentary method of data collection as well as content analysis. The study discovered that over-centralization of the Nigerian Police Force has led to an increase in crimes and violence in the country. The study strongly recommends among others, a decentralization of the Nigerian Police Force to the level of state police as this will help contain violence at the grassroot/community level before they escalate to threaten the national security of the country.

Keywords: National Security, State Police, Violence, Peace

I. INTRODUCTION

The reason for the emergence of government is to maintain social order and as well ensure the security of lives and properties of individuals within its jurisdiction. To this very extent, the police force as part of the executive arm of government was created to implement laws in the society so as to maintain order and guarantee the security of individuals within its boundary.
In Nigeria, the Nigerian Police Force is an institution responsible for the maintenance of peace and security in the country by enforcing all laws and regulations which they are directly and indirectly charged with. However, the Nigerian Police Force has performed below expectations in carrying out its obligations as hinted above, as life in the country has degenerated into what Thomas Hobbes described in his book “Leviathan” as solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short. The insecurity in the country has made citizens to live in continual fear and danger of violent death, consequently upon the activities of the BokoHaram insurgents in the Northern part of the country which has threatened the existence of the Nigerian state; the activities of the Niger Delta militants in the Southern part of the country which almost harmed the nation’s economic life wire (oil production); the activities of the Killer Herdsmen that has rampaged the entire parts of the country; banditry; kidnappings; ritual killings among others.

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