Ex-IGP Suleiman Abba Backs State Police, Advocates Local Govt Policing

In a recent interview with Arise News, former Inspector General of Police Suleiman Abba expressed his support for the establishment of state police, while also emphasizing the need for local government policing to enhance community-based crime prevention. Abba, who served as the 17th Inspector General of Police, noted that the debate on whether state police should exist has been overtaken by events, and the focus should now be on ensuring the successful implementation of the concept. He stated that the ultimate goal of state policing is to achieve community policing, where citizens collaborate with law enforcement agencies to prevent crime. Abba also disclosed that he has been a long-time advocate for local government policing, dating back to 2009 when he made recommendations to the government on the matter. According to him, state policing requires broad support and the establishment of a police trust fund to finance operations. Abba questioned the ability of state governments to fund their police services effectively, suggesting that each state should establish a security trust fund. He explained that the proposed legal framework provides clear responsibilities for federal and state police, with the federal police handling national security and federal offenses, while state police focus on routine law enforcement and criminal investigations. Abba emphasized the need for national standards in areas such as police welfare, funding, and community cooperation, while allowing flexibility for states to reflect local cultural and security realities in their operations.