Bishop of the Anglican Diocese on the Niger, Right Reverend (Dr.) Owen Nwokolo, has warned against the establishment of state police without first addressing corruption. He cautioned that this initiative could be exploited by political officials to target perceived opponents.
In an interview marking his 10th anniversary as Bishop, Nwokolo stated that while state police could help address Nigeria’s escalating insecurity, the country’s deep-rooted corruption poses a significant threat to its effectiveness.
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He expressed concerns that state governments could use state-controlled security forces to settle political scores if corruption and abuse of power remain unchecked.
“Ordinarily, state police would be a solution to insecurity. However, if corruption persists, those in authority might misuse the state police to victimize their adversaries, worsening the situation,” he explained.
The bishop noted that merely decentralizing policing without reforming the nation’s value system would not resolve Nigeria’s security challenges.
“If you transfer the problem from one level to another, it can still be misused. Innocent people will suffer more. If you have any conflicts with someone, those in power could leverage the police to commit grave injustices,” he added.
He noted that similar concerns have been raised regarding some existing local security outfits, alleging that some operatives have been accused of using excessive force against citizens.
Nwokolo asserted that Nigeria’s greatest challenge is not the structure of government but the widespread corruption that permeates every level of society.
Reflecting on successive administrations since independence, he lamented that governments have continuously promised reforms but have failed to deliver meaningful change due to the persistence of corruption, insecurity, and nepotism.
“We have always had governments making promises. The major issue may not be the current administration. We have an endemic problem of corruption that has infiltrated society,” he stated.