Former Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mike Ejiofor, has stated that Nigeria's inability to establish state police remains a major obstacle in tackling terrorism, kidnapping, and other security challenges across the country.
Speaking in an interview with Vanguard, Ejiofor argued that locally recruited security personnel would have a better understanding of their communities, including the terrain, language, and cultural dynamics necessary to effectively combat crime.
Reacting to the rising insecurity, particularly in the South-West, the former DSS chief dismissed suggestions that the surge in attacks was a result of intelligence failure. According to him, intelligence reports are often available, but security agencies lack the resources required to act promptly.
"I wouldn't say it is an intelligence failure," Ejiofor said. "Even when intelligence is provided, action agencies may lack the capacity to respond effectively because they are underfunded, understaffed, and poorly equipped. This often creates the impression that security agencies are not functioning, whereas they are doing their best under difficult conditions."
He pointed to the successful arrest and conviction of suspects linked to the 2022 Owo church attack as evidence that intelligence gathering remains effective.
"The conviction of the Owo suspects was made possible through quality intelligence. Although the attack occurred in 2022, the suspects were eventually traced and arrested," he noted.
Ejiofor stressed that if Nigerians perceive security as having failed, the blame should not rest solely on security agencies.
"If security has failed, then all of us have failed," he said. "While government bears the primary responsibility for the welfare and safety of citizens, the public must also support security agencies by providing credible information."
The security expert described the absence of state police as one of the biggest weaknesses in Nigeria's security framework. He noted that key stakeholders, including state governments, the Federal Government, and the National Assembly, have largely agreed on the need for state police, but implementation has yet to commence.
"Establishing state police is one of the quickest and most effective ways to address this menace," he said. "State police officers would be recruited from local communities, understand the environment, and work alongside the federal police. This would significantly boost manpower and operational efficiency."
He also argued that vigilante groups lack the sophisticated weapons and resources needed to confront heavily armed criminal gangs.
On the growing insecurity in the South-West, Ejiofor said terrorists have gradually shifted their operations due to sustained pressure from security forces in northern parts of the country.
"The insurgency started in the North-East. As military pressure increased, many moved to the North-West, and now some are shifting southward, particularly to the South-West," he explained.
According to him, terrorists seek to spread fear through kidnappings, killings, and other violent acts, while also undermining public confidence in government.
Ejiofor further called for improved funding, better training, increased recruitment, and enhanced welfare packages for security personnel. He maintained that state policing would provide more effective solutions to local security challenges.
He also criticized the current policing structure, noting that officers are frequently deployed to unfamiliar regions where they struggle with local languages, culture, and geography.
"I see no reason why state police cannot be established immediately," he said. "Many police officers are posted to areas they know little about and are often transferred before they fully understand the environment. Local security problems require local solutions."