Nwanguma said Odinkalu's intervention highlighted the dangers of introducing state police in the current political climate, particularly as Nigeria moves closer to another general election.
The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has warned that creating state police without far-reaching democratic reforms and strong accountability mechanisms could hand state governors dangerous coercive powers, deepen political repression, and worsen insecurity across Nigeria.
The Executive Director of RULAAC, Okechukwu Nwanguma, gave the warning in a statement issued on Sunday, while weighing in on the renewed national debate over the establishment of state police, backing concerns recently raised by legal scholar and former chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Prof Chidi Odinkalu.
Nwanguma said Odinkalu's intervention highlighted the dangers of introducing state police in the current political climate, particularly as Nigeria moves closer to another general election.
According to Nwanguma, rushing the reform without transparent public consultation, institutional preparation, proper training infrastructure, and effective oversight could transform political militias into officially armed state security forces.
