The Gani Fawehinmi Memorial Organisation, GAFAMORG, and the National Conscience Party, NCP, have called for caution and deeper reflection in the ongoing national debate on the establishment of state police in Nigeria.

The groups in a statement cosigned by Comrade Babatunde Agunbiade, Adeoye Ade Adewunmi and Vincent Odumemjenba, notes that Nigeria must resist the temptation of quick fixes that may carry long-term consequences.

They believe that Security reform must be carefully designed, democratically grounded, and socially responsive.

According to them, while Nigeria is confronted with a grave security crisis from banditry and kidnapping to communal violence and mass killings, the urgency for reform is evident.

The question is not merely whether reform is necessary, but whether the proposed solution is sustainable, just, and consistent with democratic principles.

“History offers a sobering lesson. The abuse of regional policing structures in the past contributed to political repression and instability, culminating in the 1966 Nigerian coup.

This experience underscores the need for caution in adopting any decentralised policing framework without robust constitutional safeguards.

The concern is that state police, if introduced without adequate checks, may create multiple centres of coercive power vulnerable to political control.

In a context where institutions remain fragile, this raises legitimate fears about potential misuse against political opponents, civil society actors, and ordinary citizens,” they stated.

Rather than a hurried adoption of state police, GAFAMORG and  NCP advocate a more measured and constitutionally grounded alternative: the full implementation of community policing within a clearly defined legal and institutional framework.

Such a model prioritises democratic participation, transparency, and accountability.

It ensures that policing is not only closer to the people but also subject to civilian oversight, including the involvement of community stakeholders, youth organisations, trade unions, and professional bodies.

Furthermore, modern security challenges require modern responses. The deployment of technology, including surveillance systems and intelligence-driven policing, is essential in enhancing effectiveness while reducing reliance on force.

“Crucially, security cannot be divorced from social justice. The persistence of poverty, unemployment, and inequality continues to fuel insecurity across the country.
Without addressing these root causes, no policing structure, however sophisticated, can deliver lasting peace.

In this regard, the guiding principle of the National Conscience Party (NCP), the abolition of poverty remains central to any meaningful security reform.

In the enduring spirit of Gani Fawehinmi: Security must serve the people — not power. Ultimately, the debate on state police must move beyond expediency to principle.

Nigeria requires a security architecture that not only protects lives and property but also safeguards democratic freedoms and human dignity,” they noted.

The groups urged the National Assembly of Nigeria to approach this matter with the seriousness it deserves, ensuring that any reform adopted strengthens, rather than undermines, the constitutional order.

PRESS STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
STATE POLICE OR POLICE STATE? GAFAMORG, NCP URGE CAUTION, DEMAND PEOPLE-CENTRED SECURITY REFORMS
The Gani Fawehinmi Memorial Organization (GAFAMORG) and the National Conscience Party (NCP) have called on Nigerians and policymakers to exercise utmost caution in the ongoing push for the establishment of State Police in Nigeria.
While acknowledging the worsening insecurity across the country — including banditry, kidnapping, and mass killings — the organisations warned that any reform that expands coercive powers without strong constitutional safeguards may pose serious risks to democracy, civil liberties, and national stability.
A CRITICAL MOMENT FOR NIGERIA
Nigeria is at a decisive turning point. The demand for improved security is urgent and legitimate. However, history demonstrates that poorly designed security reforms can produce unintended and dangerous consequences.
The experience of regional policing in Nigeria’s past was marked by political interference, repression, and abuse, which contributed to instability and ultimately culminated in the 1966 Nigerian coup.
This historical reality underscores the need for caution in adopting any decentralised policing structure without enforceable safeguards.
RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH STATE POLICE
GAFAMORG and NCP expressed concern that State Police, if introduced without strict constitutional controls, may:
Be used for political intimidation and repression
Undermine democratic opposition and civic space
Create multiple centres of unaccountable policing authority
Deepen existing social and political divisions
The organisations warned that Nigeria must not move from a centralised policing challenge to a fragmented system of unchecked power across the states.
A CONSTRUCTIVE ALTERNATIVE
Rather than adopting a potentially risky model, GAFAMORG and NCP advocate the full implementation of:
Constitutionally Guided Community Policing
This framework provides a more balanced approach by combining local responsiveness with democratic accountability.
Key elements include:
Democratic community oversight, involving civil society, youth, labour, and professional groups
Professional training and regulated operations to ensure discipline and respect for human rights
Deployment of modern technology, including surveillance and intelligence systems, to enhance effectiveness
Independent oversight mechanisms to prevent abuse and ensure accountability
SECURITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
The organisations emphasised that security challenges in Nigeria cannot be separated from underlying socio-economic conditions.
Poverty, unemployment, inequality, and social exclusion continue to fuel insecurity across the country. As long as these conditions persist, security challenges will remain.
In this regard, the long-standing ideological position of the National Conscience Party (NCP) — the abolition of poverty — remains central to any sustainable solution.
Security must go beyond enforcement to include justice, equity, and opportunity.
CALL TO ACTION
GAFAMORG and NCP call on:
The National Assembly of Nigeria
Civil society organisations
Labour unions
Youth and student groups
All Nigerians
To demand accountable, transparent, and people-centered security reforms that protect both lives and democratic freedoms.
FINAL WORD
Nigeria must act — but it must act wisely.
A security framework that is not carefully designed today may become a tool of oppression tomorrow.
In the enduring spirit of Gani Fawehinmi:
Security must serve the people — not power.
✊ Gani Lives On!
✊ The Struggle Continues!

ESigned
Com Babatunde Agunbiade
Com. Adeoye Ade Adewumi
Dr. Vincent Odumemjenba