Former AIG dismisses fears of abuse, backs State Police reform

Mercy Iheoma Ihedigbo

A retired Assistant Inspector General of Police, Aare Tunji Alapini, has thrown his weight behind the establishment of state police in Nigeria, arguing that the reform offers a practical opportunity to strengthen security, revive community policing and improve intelligence gathering at the grassroots.

Alapini made the call during an interview on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State, where he maintained that concerns over possible abuse of state police should not discourage Nigerians from embracing what he described as a necessary innovation in the country’s security architecture.

According to the retired police chief, meaningful reforms often come with uncertainties, but such concerns should only be addressed through practical implementation rather than outright rejection.

“I’m not saying the present policing system has failed. It has not failed. But people are clamouring to see that things could be better. There’s always room for improvement in anything. So if there’s room for improvement, there’s room for state police. That’s the way I look at it,” he said.

Alapini noted that Nigeria’s growing security challenges, including terrorism, kidnapping, banditry and communal conflicts, require fresh strategies beyond the existing centralized policing system.

“The security situation in the country calls for doing the same thing differently, and I think the introduction and the clamour for state police is a welcome development. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. If we explore it and see how it works, no matter what, we stand to benefit from it. Forget about the pros and the cons,” he stated.

The former Assistant Inspector General acknowledged persistent concerns over funding, training and accountability within the police system, but insisted these challenges should not be used as excuses to oppose the creation of state police.

According to him, improving policing requires continuous reforms, regardless of existing operational constraints.
“The issue of funding and lack of training or retraining has been part of the malaise affecting policing in the country.

Whether with funding or without funding, we have to look at what can be done to make the police stronger. I think the present Inspector General of Police is doing his best by giving directives, and that’s okay,” he added.

Alapini identified community policing as one of the strongest arguments in favour of state police, explaining that officers recruited from their local communities would possess better knowledge of the terrain, understand local dynamics and quickly identify suspicious individuals.

He lamented that the traditional culture where communities monitored unfamiliar faces had gradually disappeared.

“Twenty years ago, if a stranger came into a town, people would immediately notice and keep an eye on the person. That’s part of what we have lost. Those are the things we want to regain through community policing,” he said.

Drawing from his experience as Commissioner of Police in Edo State, Alapini cited the traditional “Edionwere” system, where community leaders maintain records of residents and are aware of newcomers within their neighbourhoods.

“When I was Commissioner of Police in Edo State, they had what is called the Edionwere. These are recognised leaders in every street. If a new person comes into the area, the Edionwere know about it. That kind of community awareness is what we need to strengthen policing,” he explained.

He stressed that security would improve significantly if every ward across Nigeria took responsibility for monitoring activities within its jurisdiction and identifying potential threats before they escalated.

“We have 36 states and the FCT. Every state has local governments, and every local government has wards. If everyone knows the people within their ward, understands the challenges in their community and pays attention to activities around them, Nigeria will become a much safer place for all of us,” he said.

Responding to concerns that state governors could misuse state police against political opponents, Alapini admitted such fears were understandable but argued they should not become obstacles to reform.

He noted that allegations of political interference already exist under the current centralized policing structure and insisted that appropriate safeguards could be introduced to address any future abuses.

“As I said earlier, nothing ventured, nothing gained. Let us start first. If we notice abuse, then we can correct the abuse,” he maintained.

Alapini further explained that the proposed framework for state police would not give governors absolute powers over the appointment of state police commissioners.

According to him, appointments would pass through a State Police Commission and other screening mechanisms designed to ensure transparency and accountability.

“From what I have read, the governor will not appoint alone. There will be a commission or panel that screens candidates before any appointment is made. The governor may have a preference, but the committee will still have to agree,” he explained.

On the relationship between federal and state police, the retired officer expressed confidence that both structures could coexist effectively with clearly defined responsibilities.

He said the federal police would continue to handle matters involving national assets and federal institutions, while state police would concentrate on local security issues within their respective states.

“From what I have seen in the proposed bill, federal matters will remain with the federal police, while issues within the states will be handled by state police unless they extend beyond state boundaries,” he stated.

Alapini also advocated stronger prosecution of criminal offenders, insisting that swift justice and certainty of punishment remain powerful deterrents against violent crimes.
He commended measures reportedly introduced by the Edo State Government to accelerate criminal trials and urged other governors to adopt similar approaches.

“I want governors across the country to emulate what the governor of Edo State has done by setting up a special court to ensure that cases involving kidnapping and other serious crimes are concluded within two weeks. When punishment is swift and certain, it sends a strong message to criminals,” he said.

The retired Assistant Inspector General concluded by emphasizing that no policing system, whether federal or state, can succeed without the active support of citizens.

He urged Nigerians to revive the spirit of communal responsibility, remain vigilant and actively participate in safeguarding their communities, insisting that collective responsibility remains the foundation of effective security.