Five States to Adopt Security Outfits as State Police

Five Nigerian states—Ondo, Kaduna, Anambra, Zamfara, and Abia—are preparing to adopt their existing security outfits as state police once the constitutional process is finalized. This follows the House of Representatives' passage of an Executive Bill aimed at establishing state police, marking a significant move towards decentralizing Nigeria's policing system.

The states argue that their existing agencies possess the necessary structures, experience, and community trust for a smooth transition. In Ondo State, the government plans to convert the Amotekun security network into state police, with Allen Sowore, Special Adviser to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, stating that the corps is well-positioned for this transformation.

Similarly, Kaduna State intends to convert the Kaduna State Vigilance Service into state police, as indicated by Commissioner Sule Shu’aibu. The shift aims to expedite the establishment of state police by leveraging existing frameworks rather than creating new organizations from scratch.