Igbo Heroes and Icons Foundation Urges FG: State Police Creation Now a Matter of Utmost Urgency

 

In the face of Nigeria's unrelenting security crisis, a prominent Igbo socio-cultural organization has added its voice to the growing chorus demanding immediate action on state police.

The Igbo Heroes and Icons Foundation has formally appealed to the Federal Government to prioritize and expedite the establishment of state police forces across the federation. Describing the move as "now a matter of urgency," the group argued that the centralized policing structure under the Nigeria Police Force has proven inadequate against rising threats like banditry, insurgency, kidnappings, and communal clashes.

"The time for excuses is over," a statement from the foundation reportedly emphasized, highlighting how localized policing could enable faster response times, better community intelligence, and more effective crime prevention tailored to regional contexts.

This call comes at a pivotal moment. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has publicly committed to decentralizing policing, repeatedly appealing to the National Assembly for swift constitutional amendments to make state police a reality. Information Minister Mohammed Idris recently reaffirmed that "the time has indeed come" for state police, with the President determined to see it through once legal frameworks are in place.

Support for the initiative has broadened significantly. State Houses of Assembly speakers have declared it "long overdue," while southern governors and security experts stress that community-based policing models (evident in outfits like Amotekun in the Southwest) demonstrate the viability of subnational forces. Even some northern elders and governors have expressed backing, though concerns persist about potential misuse, ethnic biases, or abuse by state executives.

The path forward requires amending Section 214 of the 1999 Constitution, which vests exclusive policing powers in the federal government. This would need a two-thirds majority in both chambers of the National Assembly, followed by ratification by at least 24 state assemblies.

Critics, including some pan-Igbo groups advocating regional rather than state-level policing (modeled on pre-1966 structures), warn that without strong oversight mechanisms—such as federal coordination, funding safeguards, and independent commissions—state police could exacerbate divisions or enable political victimization.

As insecurity continues to claim lives daily, from mass abductions in schools to attacks on rural communities, the pressure on lawmakers and the executive intensifies. The Igbo Heroes and Icons Foundation's plea underscores a national consensus: Nigeria's security architecture must evolve urgently to match the federation's realities.

The question is no longer whether state police is needed, but how quickly consensus can translate into concrete action. With momentum building in 2026, the coming months could determine if this long-debated reform finally materializes.