Post by Olubukola Abe (@bukenke)

Retired Commissioner of Police Muhammad Wakili, popularly known as ‘Singham’, says creating state police will drag Nigeria back to the problems of the 1960s. “We operated a similar police system before now. It was abrogated during the 1972 constitutional amendment… We have tested that system know the consequences,” he told Daily Trust. He warned that governors already act “as if states were their personal properties,” and giving them their own police will repeat history.

Singham argued the Nigeria Police Force is “among the best in the world” but is crippled by poor funding, lack of manpower, dilapidated barracks, and no operational vehicles. “Some states don’t even have up to 3,000 policemen… if we don’t have enough manpower, how can you expect smooth operations?” Instead of state police, he urged recruitment, proper training, equipment, and punishment for erring officers: “Whoever breaks the law should be punished… But in a situation where those who are supposed to enforce the law are protected… how can such a person prevent the common man from misconduct?”

On whether state police can be non-partisan, Singham was blunt: “It is impossible to stop governors from abusing state police. It is better to stop the move entirely than to deceive ourselves.” He cited how governors already use thugs: “If they can do that with thugs, how can you say they will not use state police for the same purpose?” He doubted state police could tackle Boko Haram or banditry: “If the Nigeria Police Force that has existed for many decades cannot finish this war, I wonder how state police can win it… I think the only role they can play is handling cases of prostitution, thuggery and drug abuse.”

Singham said the solution is patriotism and sacrifice, not more police forces. “The prevailing insecurity lies in lack of fairness and equity in governance. If our leaders are just… we won’t be in this situation.” He called for strengthening the existing NPF, selective justice to end impunity, and warned that creating state police and geopolitical zones “weakened the country and further divided Nigerians.”

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