Abdulrahman Dambazau, former Chief of Army Staff and Nigeria’s ambassador-designate to China, has urged caution on the proposed state police system.
He said state policing will only succeed if authorities fully professionalize it and keep it away from political influence.
He gave the warning during an interview with the press men.
Dambazau noted that insecurity in rural areas has increased calls for state police.
He said many communities believe decentralization will improve security.
However, he warned that structure alone will not fix the problem.
The former army chief cautioned against placing state police under governors’ control.
He said such control could lead to abuse and political interference.
He also warned that security forces could be used against political opponents if safeguards are weak.
Dambazau stressed that any state police system must follow strict professional standards.
He listed key requirements for effectiveness; Proper training and vetting of personnel, Strong discipline and accountability, Adequate funding and equipment, Clear national oversight rules, Respect for human rights
He added that welfare and continuous training are also important.
He explained that rural communities face the worst insecurity.
He said many of these areas lack effective law enforcement presence.
This gap, he noted, has pushed residents to seek alternative protection measures.
Dambazau said poor implementation would make state police ineffective.
He warned that weak systems could worsen insecurity instead of reducing it.
He urged authorities to prioritize structure, discipline, and professionalism.
He concluded that state police can improve security in Nigeria.
However, he said success depends on strong standards, not just decentralization.
