Retired Assistant Inspector-General (AIG) of Police, Wilson Inalegwu, has warned that the proposed state police system in Nigeria will fail if it is populated by political thugs, vigilante members or loyalists of political parties.
Inalegwu gave the warning during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, stressing that the success of state police would depend on transparent recruitment, professionalism and political neutrality.
He said while the creation of state police could strengthen internal security by increasing policing manpower, the integrity of the proposed force would depend on the quality and impartiality of those recruited.
“We are praying that they will not use members of vigilante, members of thugs, supporters of political parties or individuals to form the new class of this police force,” he said.
According to him, recruiting individuals with partisan affiliations or vigilante backgrounds would undermine the credibility of state police and transform it into an instrument for political interests rather than public service.
Drawing from Nigeria’s history, the retired police chief recalled that similar concerns were raised during the era of the Native Authority Police.
“Majority of the police in the native authority were formed from supporters of political parties and were formed from thugs and that was a fear that was expressed in 1958 where the minorities expressed fear,” he said.
Inalegwu called for transparent recruitment processes, strict professional standards and robust oversight mechanisms to ensure that state police operate within the law and remain accountable to the public.
He also defended the Nigeria Police Force, saying its current challenges stem mainly from inadequate funding, manpower shortages and poor logistics rather than incompetence.
“The Nigerian Police today is grossly underfunded and logistics are not provided. Otherwise, the Nigerian Police Force is a fantastic organisation; it is competent and able to do the job of policing in Nigeria,” he said.
According to him, years of inadequate funding have left officers overstretched and under-equipped, limiting the force’s ability to effectively tackle the country’s growing security challenges.
He added that increased investment in personnel, operational equipment, infrastructure and officers’ welfare would significantly improve policing and restore public confidence.
The retired AIG also expressed concern over the country’s weak institutions, warning that state police could become vulnerable to political interference if adequate safeguards are not put in place.
“Our institutions are very weak and are not strong enough to withstand the torment of desperate politicians,” he said.
He stressed that strong institutions were essential to prevent state-controlled police forces from becoming tools of intimidation rather than impartial law enforcement.
Inalegwu described the police as a critical institution with primary responsibility for internal security, public order and crime prevention, adding that Nigeria’s development is closely tied to the effectiveness of its policing system.
His remarks come days after the Senate defended the passage of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (State Police) Bill, 2026.
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele described the proposed legislation as “a child of necessity rather than political expediency” and “a product of national consensus, not cynicism,” arguing that the establishment of state police had become imperative in addressing the country’s security challenges.
