Insecurity escalates as moves for state police intensify

2026-03-08 - 04:46

•B/Haram, ISWAP declare caliphate in Borno, claim responsibility for soldiers, residents’ killings, abduction of hundreds •Dozens dead in Benue, Niger, Kogi attacks, 10 abducted in Kwara, ‘brutal killings’ in Ebonyi as monarch die during negotiation with captors •US Congressman raises concerns over reported attacks on Christians By Peter Duru, Demola Akinyemi, Ndahi Marama, Gift ChapiOdekina, Favour Ulebor, Jeff Agbodo Nigeria’s journey toward decentralised police got a boost on Wednesday after the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, inaugurated a committee on State Police. The IGP’s action comes on the heels of the State Police Constitution Alteration Bill currently in the works at the National Assembly which proposes a sweeping reconfiguration of Nigeria’s security architecture. Meanwhile, Nigeria has witnessed a surge of violent attacks over the past two weeks that have left communities across the country on edge. From the North-East to South-East, insurgents, armed gangs, and local militias have struck with growing audacity, targeting civilians, security personnel, and high-profile figures alike. Mass abductions, assassinations, highway ambushes, and communal clashes have created a climate of fear, exposing gaps in security and underscoring the urgent need for coordinated responses. In one of the disturbing incidents, terrorists, believed to be members of Boko Haram and Islamic State for West Africa Province, attacked Ngoshe in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, boasting thereafter that they would perform forthcoming Eid-el-Fitr prayers in the community, and declaring it part of their caliphate. In a video, five armed men, all carrying AK-47 rifles, acknowledged beheading men and women and said about 300 abducted residents were to be converted into slaves. Several civilians, including the Chief Imam of Ngoshe, were reportedly killed, and both civilian property and military equipment were destroyed during the attack. The assailants also claimed to have killed scores of soldiers. In separate attacks in Benue, Niger and Kogi States, dozens reportedly died. A monarch in Ebonyi State was kidnapped on his way to church as brutal killings were alleged in communal clash in the state while a former local government Chairman was shot dead in Benue. Disu, while inaugurating the State Police committee, said it is expected to develop a workable framework through which state policing can operate in Nigeria without undermining the country’s national security structure. He outlined the committee’s responsibilities to include reviewing existing policing models within and outside Nigeria, assessing community security needs, identifying potential risks, and proposing an operational structure for the establishment and coordination of State Police systems. The IGP added: “The committee would also address key issues relating to recruitment procedures, training standards, resource allocation, and the development of accountability and oversight mechanisms that will ensure professionalism and sustain public trust in the policing system. “If properly designed and implemented, state policing could bring law enforcement closer to the people, enhance local knowledge of security dynamics, and enable quicker responses to emerging threats within communities. “Decentralizing certain policing responsibilities would allow state governments and local authorities to respond more effectively to security challenges within their jurisdictions, while the federal government focuses on broader national security priorities “The vision we seek is one of synergy, not competition; partnership, not duplication”. Members of the committee, which has four weeks to submit their report, include Prof Olu Ogunsakin as Chairman, CP Emmanuel Ojukwu (rtd), CP Bode Ojajuni, DCP Okebuchi Ogora, ACP Ikechukwu Okafor, and CSP Tolulope Ipinmisho. Renewed attacks The attacks of the past fortnight have not only claimed dozens of lives but also disrupted daily life, commerce, and local governance. Residents now live under the shadow of violence, while authorities grapple with the challenge of restoring safety in regions increasingly besieged by lawlessness. Abductions On the night of February 23, 2026, militants believed to be members of Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province stormed Ngoshe community in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State. Community dwellers reported that over 300 villagers were abducted, including women and children, as the attackers moved from house to house. Several civilians, including the Chief Imam of Ngoshe, were killed, and both civilian property and military equipment were destroyed. Following the attack, a video circulating on social media showed suspected Boko Haram terrorists claiming responsibility. Eid-el-Fitr The group vowed to remain in Ngoshe and perform Eid-el-Fitr prayers in the community, declaring it part of their caliphate. In the video, five armed men, all carrying AK-47 rifles, acknowledged beheading men and women and said the abducted residents were to be converted into slaves. The spokesperson, identifying their leader as Imam Abu Grema, stated that the attack had killed “scores of soldiers and civilians” and declared Ngoshe under their control. Later, the same militants launched coordinated assaults on nearby military positions, reportedly killing 14 soldiers in intense overnight fighting. Security sources noted that the militants were heavily armed and appeared to have carefully planned the attacks, moving swiftly to overwhelm both civilians and troops. The attack highlights the resilient operational capabilities of insurgents in the North-East, who are now openly broadcasting their intentions and targeting civilians for abduction and enslavement. Attackers In the early hours of February 26, 2026, residents of Geidam town in Yobe State were terrorized when gunmen entered the local market. Witnesses said the attackers fired sporadically into the air before setting fire to several stalls, destroying goods worth millions of naira. While no casualties were immediately reported, traders described scenes of chaos as people ran in all directions to escape the flames and gunfire. Similarly, in Niger State, several villages came under attack on February 27, 2026, when armed men on motorcycles rode through rural communities, opening fire on residents. At least 15 people were killed, with shops and homes looted before the attackers disappeared into surrounding forests. Local authorities attributed the attacks to heavily armed bandits operating across northern Nigeria. Survivors described the gunmen as organized, moving in groups of five to seven, systematically targeting villagers. Highway ambushes On February 28, 2026, travelers along major highways in Kogi State were ambushed by gunmen. The attackers abducted 13 people and killed two, according to local sources. Passengers reported that the assailants moved swiftly, stopping vehicles at checkpoints and using motorcycles to chase fleeing commuters. This incident has sparked anxiety among traders and commuters, who now fear travelling along key roads connecting North Central to the South. Communal violence In the South-East, a long-standing land dispute erupted violently between Amasiri and Okporojo. The clash left several residents dead in what authorities described as “brutal killings linked to boundary disagreements.” Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, following an expanded Security Council meeting in Abakaliki, ordered the destruction of all shrines and deities in Amasiri clan, mandating community members to identify their locations to the government and security agencies. He also constituted a 19-member committee headed by Paul Nwobashi to carry out proper demarcation of the disputed boundary. The governor said the curfew will remain in force until the severed heads of the victims of the Okporojo killings were recovered, underscoring the severity of the situation. Kidnapping and death In a separate high-profile incident, the traditional ruler of Ndufu-Alike in Ikwo Local Government Area, Ezeogo Francis Igwe, was kidnapped while traveling to church on March 1, 2026. Masked gunmen blocked his vehicle and abducted him on a motorcycle. The kidnappers demanded N250 million ransom, but during negotiation, the monarch was killed in their hideout. Police operatives engaged the kidnappers, neutralized one gunman, and arrested nine others, recovering a locally made pistol. The body of the monarch was later recovered and deposited for autopsy. The incident reflected the growing boldness of criminal gangs in the region. Assassination In Otukpo, former Otukpo LGA Chairman, Udeh Ijachi, was shot dead on February 29, 2026 near a hotel. Gunmen on motorcycles allegedly tracked him and shot him at close range. His younger brother, Ejeh Udeh Ijachi, had been killed six months earlier under similar circumstances. Witnesses described the attack as well-planned and brazen, leaving residents in panic. Local authorities are investigating potential political or communal motives. Benue Suspected armed herdsmen reportedly attacked Tyungu Jam and Mbaav communities in Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State, killing about 20 people while many others remain missing. According to local sources, the attackers stormed the communities in the morning and continued their assault late into the night, forcing residents to flee their homes. Community members are still searching nearby bushes and destroyed houses for missing persons, raising fears that the death toll may increase. Residents described the attack as devastating, saying innocent women and children were killed in their homes. They expressed frustration and fear, claiming that communities feel unprotected as violence continues in the area. Witnesses warned that more bodies could still be discovered as the search for victims continues. Governor Hyacinth Alia condemned the killings, describing them as “barbaric, senseless, and unacceptable.” International attention The wave of attacks has also drawn attention from abroad. US Congressman, Riley M. Moore, raised concerns over reported attacks on Christians in Nigeria, highlighting incidents such as the burning of St. Mary’s Catholic Cathedral in Wukari, Taraba State, on March 4, 2026, as well as insurgent violence in the North-East. Moore reposted claims from security analyst, Brant Philip, that ISWAP militants attacked Kirshinga, killing 27 Christians, burning 10 houses, and demanding that residents either pay the jizyah tax, convert to Islam, or face death. The lawmaker stated that the matter had been raised in a report submitted to the White House, urging the Nigerian government to take stronger action to protect vulnerable communities. Moore emphasized that the United States will not watch as Christians continue to face targeted violence and persecution, calling on Abuja to step up security measures to prevent further attacks. The development shows the growing complexity of Nigeria’s security challenges. Despite intensified military and police operations, many communities remain vulnerable due to porous borders, limited security presence, and difficult terrain. Bill Analysts believe it may come to a point where the decisions of the Disu committee will be injected into the State Police Constitution Alteration Bill. Among other things, the bill provides for states creation and operation of their own State Police Services with legal backing under state laws while the Nigeria Police Force will continue as a Federal Police Service handling national and interstate crimes. There are also provisions for safeguard in the State Police Constitution Alteration Bill to address fears of political manipulation of State Police, intervention by governors and human rights abuse. For instance, the bill provides that the Federal Government may suspend or take over a state police command if there is evidence of human rights abuses, the governor is politically interfering, there is a breakdown of law and order, or the State Police threatens national security For decades, the argument for State Police has oscillated between necessity and fear, necessity because the centralised Nigeria Police remains overstretched and ill-equipped to police 230 million people across complex terrains, and fear because of concerns that governors may misuse local police forces for political intimidation. But with escalating insecurity worsening kidnapping rings, banditry, rural killings, violent crimes and highway attacks, the federal police has been unable to respond swiftly to the momentum. Interestingly, the State Police Constitution Alteration Bill is among the 44 harmonised bills now ready for consideration and voting by the two chambers of the National Assembly. The two chambers of the National Assembly (Senate and House of Representatives) will vote on the bills and if they are passed, they will go to the state Houses of Assembly where they are also required to be passed by at least two thirds of them before President Bola Tinubu will need to assent to become law. Many analysts are optimistic that the State Police Constitution Alteration Bill will become law given Tinubu and many state governors disposition to the creation of State Police amid insecurity tensions in the country. Below is a breakdown of the State Police Constitution Alteration Bill before the National Assembly, the constitutional amendments it seeks, and what the move means for the country’s future. Constitutional Amendment to Allow State Police The bill seeks to amend Section 214(1) of the 1999 Constitution which prohibits the establishment of any other police force besides the NPF. The proposed amendment states: States may create and operate their own State Police Services with legal backing under state laws. The Nigeria Police Force will continue as a Federal Police Service handling national and interstate crimes. This, if seen through, ends the long-held constitutional monopoly of the federal police. Establishment of State Police Commands Each state will create: A State Police Command •Headed by a State Commissioner of Police, appointed through a regulated process •With divisions, area commands, tactical units, and special squads The force will operate within state jurisdiction only, except under approved joint operations. Clear Jurisdictional Separation To prevent operational conflict, the bill clearly differentiates responsibilities: •Federal Police Responsibilities: Counter-terrorism; Border security: Cybercrime & interstate crime networks; National intelligence; Federal property and institutions; Insurgency and anti-banditry operations. •State Police Responsibilities: Community policing; Neighbourhood patrols; Rapid response to local threats; Rural security operations; Local intelligence and early warning; Enforcement of state laws This creates a dual policing structure similar to other federal systems. State Police Service Commission Each state must establish a State Police Service Commission which will: •Recruit, promote, discipline, and retire officers; Ensure merit-based appointments; Set professional standards; Address complaints from citizens; Enforce accountability mechanisms This commission functions like the federal Police Service Commission but exclusively for State Police. National Oversight and Safeguards To address fears of political manipulation, the bill introduces an oversight structure: •National Council on State Policing: Chaired by the President, and includes: All 36 governors, IG of Police, Chairmen of PSC, Police Trust Fund, Security Experts and Service Chiefs (as needed) The Council will: •Approve national policing standards; Oversee training guidelines; Audit state compliance; Intervene when governors abuse power; Prevent weaponisation of the force during elections The Federal Government may suspend or take over a state police command if: •There is evidence of human rights abuses •The governor is politically interfering •There is a breakdown of law and order •The State Police threatens national security This is one of the strongest safeguards in the bill. Appointment and Removal of State Commissioners of Police The process is structured to limit political control: •The governor nominates three candidates The State Assembly screens and approves one •The candidate must also be cleared by the National Council on State Policing •The governor cannot unilaterally remove the Commissioner •Removal requires approval of the State Police Service Commission and State Assembly This model limits the risk of governors turning state police into personal security outfits. Recruitment from Local Communities Recruitment will be based on: •Local government origin •Local residency •Knowledge of local languages and customs •Community endorsement in some cases This ensures better: Intelligence gathering, Terrain familiarity, Community cooperation, Trust between police and residents This provision directly responds to the challenges of banditry and rural insecurity. Funding Structure States must: Create a State Police Fund backed by law; Include policing in annual state budgets; Provide training schools, operational facilities, vehicles, weapons, welfare, pensions, and insurance A federal–state partnership fund will support: Training, Emergency operations; Technology and equipment; States with weaker revenue bases Human Rights and Accountability Measures Each state police command must: •Comply with federal human rights standards •Establish an internal disciplinary body •Submit annual reports to both the State Assembly and National Council •Maintain body cameras & digital evidence systems (over time) •Ensure transparency in arrests and detention •Protect political opposition and civil society This is designed to prevent a repeat of past abuses associated with local security outfits. Conditions for Federal Intervention The Federal Government may temporarily assume control of a state police command if: •The governor uses the police to suppress political opponents •The police are involved in ethnic bias •Human rights violations increase •The command fails in its duties •The state is unable to fund or maintain operational discipline •National security is threatened What Lawmakers Say: For the first time in years, members openly acknowledge that the Nigeria Police can no longer cope with the scale of insecurity. However, some lawmakers worry about governors turning state police into political instruments, funding burdens, ethnic tensions Rep. Benjamin Kalu (Deputy Speaker, APC-Abia) Speaking at a legislative security retreat, Kalu declared: “Community-based policing is no longer an option, it is an absolute necessity. The centre can no longer hold a monopoly over security. State police is the direction Nigeria must go.” He has since been leading consultations with governors and security chiefs on coordinating the constitutional amendment process. Rep. Muktar Aliyu Betara (APC-Borno) Betara, one of the most influential voices in the House, supports state police but warns against abuse. His words: “My fear is simple: we must not create thirty-six new political police forces. If we get the safeguards right, state police will help us. If we don’t, it will worsen the crisis.” His push is for strict federal standards on training, human rights compliance, and recruitment. Rep. Kingsley Chinda (Minority Leader, PDP–Rivers) Chinda is one of the strongest advocates of state police. “Nobody should deceive themselves — Nigeria is already running state policing informally. Hunters, vigilantes, and local guards are doing what federal police cannot. The time has come to formalise what is already happening,” the lawmaker said. He argued that legalising state police will professionalise local security structures currently operating without regulation. Rep. Sada Soli (APC–Katsina) Soli, from a state heavily affected by banditry, told journalists after plenary: “My people are dying every week. If we politicise this state police bill, history will judge us. We cannot keep pretending that Abuja can police 230 million people alone.” He has pushed for massive federal investment in rural intelligence units to complement state commands. Rep. Ahmed Jaha (APC–Borno) A vocal lawmaker from a state devastated by insurgency, Jaha delivered one of the most passionate pleas on the floor of the House: “I have buried too many of my people. I have seen entire communities wiped out. Federal police cannot respond fast enough. We need state police yesterday, not tomorrow.” Rep. Yakubu Buba (APC Adamawa) Buba, Chair of the House Committee on Police Affairs, is cautious but leaning in. He said: “We need to decentralise, yes. But we must build capacity first. Most states today cannot even pay salaries consistently. How will they fund state police?” He wants a gradual rollout, starting with financially stable states. Rep. Victor Afam Ogene (Labour Party-Anambra) Ogene emphasised the need for accountability: “State police will fail if we replicate the corruption of the federal police. We must embed accountability into the structure from day one.” He is pushing for community oversight boards in each state command. Rep. Aminu Suleiman (NNPP–Kano) Suleiman, speaking outside the chamber, highlighted concerns in the North: “Our fear is not the idea of state police. Our fear is the misuse by politicians. But the insecurity in the North-West has reached a level where doing nothing is no longer an option.” His stance reflects a shift among many Northern lawmakers who previously opposed the idea entirely. Rep. Bamidele Salam (PDP–Osun) Salam summed up the desperation of many communities: “Villages in my constituency are contributing money to feed volunteers who guard them at night. That is not sustainable. We need a formal, constitutional structure.” Tinubu’s Directive: Why Now? Tinubu’s recent security briefing with the leadership of the National Assembly, service chiefs, and governors resulted in a decisive shift. A senior official at the meeting said: “The security architecture must change. The federal police alone cannot secure Nigeria. Decentralised policing is no longer optional.” The renewed push comes amid: A spike in kidnapping and ransom terrorism, bandit attacks on highways and rural communities, farmer–herder conflicts, urban crime escalation, intelligence gaps in local terrains, and over-reliance on vigilante systems with no constitutional backing By directing immediate legislative action, the president has effectively revived a once politically divisive reform. Reactions From Across Nigeria Governors Most governors support the bill but want federal support for start-up costs, clear lines on federal intervention, and adequate training standards Civil Society CSOs welcome the reform but warn: Safeguards against political abuses must be stronger, human rights compliance must be enforced and recruitment must be transparent Security Experts Experts say centralised policing has failed and decentralisation is long overdue. What This Bill Means For Nigeria If passed, the bill will: · Put Nigeria on the path of restructuring the federal system · Improve community-based security response · Reduce pressure on federal police · Create thousands of jobs · Strengthen local intelligence networks · Reduce rural attacks and kidnappings · Provide clearer accountability mechanisms · Transform the security landscape fundamentally Nigeria may have finally taken a step that has been debated for over 20 years.