Awka, June 24, 2026 – The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has stated that the Nigeria Police Force is not responsible for the slow pace of efforts to establish state police across the country.
Disu made the clarification through the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the South-East, Kenechukwu Onwuemelie, during a stakeholders’ security forum held in Awka on Tuesday.
He acknowledged that the introduction of state police would complement the operations of the Nigeria Police Force and strengthen crime prevention and law enforcement efforts nationwide.
According to him, the creation of state police is a constitutional matter that falls within the jurisdiction of both the National Assembly and the various state legislatures.
“The authority to establish state police lies within the constitutional framework. Any amendment to the law governing the Nigeria Police Force must first be passed by the National Assembly and subsequently receive the approval of at least two-thirds of the State Houses of Assembly,” he explained.
The police chief urged stakeholders to remain patient, noting that lawmakers were actively working on the necessary legal processes required to bring the initiative to fruition.
He also stressed the importance of closer cooperation between security agencies and community stakeholders to strengthen security at the grassroots level.
Disu encouraged residents to provide timely and credible information on suspicious activities within their communities, saying such intelligence was vital for swift intervention by law enforcement agencies.
He noted that tackling insecurity required collective effort, adding that security agencies alone could not effectively safeguard the nation without public support.
Speaking at the event, the Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Ikioye Orutugu, described security as a critical foundation for social and economic development.
He said maintaining peace and order required sustained collaboration, trust and engagement among government institutions, security agencies and community stakeholders.
According to Orutugu, the growing partnership between security agencies and residents has contributed significantly to the reduction of crime in Anambra State.
He called for stronger cooperation among all relevant groups to sustain progress in combating criminal activities.
Several stakeholders at the meeting commended the Anambra State Government and the State House of Assembly for creating local security outfits, including Udogachi and Agunechemba, to support conventional security agencies.
They also appealed to the Federal Government to accelerate efforts toward establishing state police, arguing that decentralised policing would improve security management at the community level.
Participants further advocated increased funding, improved training programmes and better welfare packages for police personnel and local vigilance groups to enhance their effectiveness in maintaining security nationwide.