Irabor Advocates Tactical Precision in State Policing Debate

On Wednesday, Lucky Irabor, the former Chief of Defence Staff, cautioned against Nigeria's push for state policing being driven by political emotions rather than tactical precision. During a panel discussion, he warned that decentralizing the police without robust legal safeguards and clear operational structures could weaken national security.

Irabor explained that while local policing formats exist, delays often arise due to centralized operational authority, leading to slow responses to security threats. He stressed that creating state police without clearly defined jurisdictions could lead to conflicts, especially with criminal groups operating across state boundaries.

Irabor urged lawmakers to establish strong institutional safeguards and independent oversight mechanisms to ensure accountability. Benjamin Kalu, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, defended the proposed constitutional amendment for state policing, citing public support.

Other lawmakers, including Dauda Lawal and Nnenna Elendu Ukej, expressed concerns about potential political abuse and the need for existing police forces to be strengthened before establishing state police.