Poly Ibadan Convocation: SAN Says State Police Key to Ending Terrorism, Banditry

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr Muyiwa Akinboro (SAN), on Thursday declared that Nigeria would continue to struggle with terrorism, banditry and other violent crimes unless policing is decentralised to allow states to establish and control their own police forces.

Akinboro stated this while delivering the 40th Convocation Lecture of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, held at the institution’s North Campus Assembly Hall.

Speaking on the theme, “Legal Framework and Strategies for Addressing Terrorism, Banditry and Insurgency in Nigeria: A Multidimensional Approach,” the legal luminary argued that the country’s centralised policing structure has become inadequate in addressing modern security threats that vary across regions and communities.

He said terrorism in Nigeria had evolved beyond insurgency in the North-East, spreading into banditry, kidnapping, farmer-herder clashes and cross-border criminal networks, stressing that these challenges required localised intelligence and response mechanisms.

According to him, “The demands of contemporary security clearly show that a centrally controlled police force can no longer exclusively handle Nigeria’s diverse and complex security challenges. The call for state police is no longer theoretical; it is a practical necessity.”

Akinboro noted that although Section 214(1) of the 1999 Constitution establishes the Nigeria Police Force as the sole internal security agency, the realities on ground have exposed the limits of this arrangement, particularly in enforcing state laws and responding swiftly to local threats.

He questioned the logic of a federal system where states are empowered to make laws but lack the security apparatus to enforce them, describing the situation as a contradiction that weakens governance and emboldens criminal elements.

“If the primary purpose of government, as stated in Section 14(2)(b) of the Constitution, is the security and welfare of the people, how can states fulfil this obligation when they are denied control over policing within their territories?” he asked.

The SAN also highlighted the challenges surrounding the enforcement of anti-open grazing laws enacted by several southern states, noting that federal control of the police has made enforcement weak and inconsistent.

Akinboro commended the establishment of regional security outfits such as the South-West Security Network, Amotekun, describing it as a bold response to insecurity and a clear indication that decentralised security structures can work when properly backed by law.

He said Amotekun’s success in reducing kidnapping and banditry in parts of the South-West was largely due to its members’ understanding of local terrain and communities, but noted that its impact remained limited because it lacked detention and prosecutorial powers.

“Amotekun can arrest suspects, but must hand them over to the police. This limits effectiveness. A properly structured state police with constitutional backing and prosecutorial powers will strengthen security, not weaken the federation,” he said.

While acknowledging Nigeria’s robust legal framework, including the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and the Cybercrime Act, 2015, Akinboro warned that strong laws alone could not end terrorism without effective enforcement, coordination and local ownership of security.

He identified corruption, weak inter-agency collaboration, human rights concerns, poverty and unemployment as major obstacles undermining Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts.

The convocation lecturer called for constitutional amendments to decentralise policing, strengthen institutions and align security responses with local realities, while also investing in socioeconomic development to address the root causes of extremism.

He concluded that Nigeria’s long-term stability depends on bold structural reforms, insisting that decentralised policing remains one of the most critical steps towards restoring public trust and defeating terrorism and banditry.

The lecture was part of activities marking The Polytechnic, Ibadan’s 40th convocation ceremony for the award of diplomas, certificates and prizes to the 2024/2025 graduands.