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State police’ll worsen insecurity, says ex-IGP Idris

In this interview, former Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Kpotun Idris, discussed the security challenges in the country and what should be done to increase the productivity of the Nigeria Police, instead of creating state police.
Is the Nigeria Police Force over-stretched?
The strength of the police, compared to the Nigerian population, obviously, we are over-stretched.
What was the police population at the time you left?
When I left compared to now, the police is operating at very low-level population.
What were some of the things that you would want the IGP to do to improve the police force?
The issue is that police are over-stretched, they are operating at a very low level, compared to the population of this country. Within a period of time, if we can increase the population of the police to tackle the challenges we have in the country, that will assist a lot.
Is there improvement in the welfare of the police?
No, like I said, taking consideration of the population of the country, the police are over-stretched presently. We need to do something to increase the police, for them to adequately tackle the level of insecurity in the country.
Does that mean much hasn’t been done to help in combating insecurity in the country?
Obviously!! A lot has been done but I think more has to be done to tackle insecurity in the country.
What does government need to do to make the police more productive?
A lot needs to be done to improve the strength of the police for them to adequately tackle crime in the country.
Do you think its necessary to improve the welfare of the police, like salary?
A lot needs to be done to address the challenges of the police in Nigeria, a lot needs to be done.
Do you support the establishment of state police?
When you say state police, you are creating another problem to tackle an existing problem. We should address the issue of the inadequacy of the police compared to the country’s population.
What do you think of using a female team to combat insecurity?
Of course, we have policewomen, they can use police women to tackle banditry. We have policewomen. We can create that unit within the police, to take care of banditry.
With many regional security outfits, what are the implications and would the trend end insecurity in Nigeria?
To establish a unit, you have to train and arm the men; it’s not just establishing a unit, you train and equip them to tackle these criminal situations. They have to undergo training and, once you do that, its going to be a very difficult situation.
What was your greatest challenge while in office?
In this country, in tackling insecurity in the country, we face the same challenge, and you have to look at the issue of recruitment, training of men. You have to train people to tackle the situation. Presently, a lot of them have left the service, I don’t know what is on ground but we need more policemen, obviously.
You said a lot has to be done, can you itemise these things?
One is the training of men. We need to train policemen, we need to train them to tackle insecurity, then equip them, give them the equipment to tackle insecurity.
Are you saying that police are poorly equipped?
I am not saying that they are not well equipped but you train them and equip them to tackle their responsibility.
Recently, we have had cases of attacks on police station, especially in the East; what do you think can be done to boost trust in police?
We need to tackle attacks on policemen. That is a very serious crime, and until we look into those attacks on policemen, the morale could continue to be dampened.
What can be done by the force to gain the trust of Nigerians?
I think you should talk of government. What should government do? I think government should look into the attacks on policemen because it dampens the morale of the police; we have to look at those issues and study them deeply. Has anybody done any study on those?
What has life been like after retirement?
You can see my life, this is my house.
What has been your experience after retirement?
I have been resting and resting.
Do you have any political ambition?
Politics? No, no, no. I am resting now.
Your advice to the current IGP?
They need to study the attacks on policemen because that thing is very dangerous. It dampens the morale of serving police officers and it affects even their input. They need to tackle it urgently as those who are serving would not put in their full effort. This issue of regional security is also dampening the moral of serving policemen and I think that government should also tackle it urgently.
There have been rumours of police men buying their accessories how true is it?
I don’t believe it, rumours can be true or false but a policeman does not buy uniform.
Police Service Commission or the NPF, who is responsible for the recruitment of police?
From the previous experience I had, the government recruits police. They recruit and train them. The government can be Police Service Commission or the Nigeria Police Force.
Your advice to government on how to end insecurity in Nigeria.
Let them tackle adequately the requirements of the police. If they handle that adequately, this country would be adequately policed. To address police in this country, you talk of need of requitement, training them, arming them. And welfare is very important because you need to give them welfare.
Is welfare the reason why the police collect money for bail despite stating that bail is free?
Money for bail? In which country? Bail is free.
Last year, there were agitations for the scrapping of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS); do you support it?
From the name what does SARS mean? They set them up for a purpose. Are we still facing the problem? If we are still facing the problem, it’s just to train and equip those units and make them more effective.
Is there any form of gender discrimination in the police force?
The issue on ground has to do with police rules and regulations that forbid women from getting pregnant before marriage. But the matter is being addressed and its in court.
News
OYC Warns ICPC Chairman Against Alleged Bias in Uche Nnaji Case

The Apex sociocultural youth organization of the Igbo race worldwide, Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC), has described the current arrest made by the Independent Corrupt Practice and Other Related Offence (ICPC) against former Minister of Science and Technology and the 2027 People Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for Enugu State, Hon. Uche Nnaji, regarding his certificate, as a deliberate political witch-hunt orchestrated by the Governor of Enugu State, His Excellency Gov. Peter Mbah.
In a press address in Enugu on Wednesday, 8th July 2026, Comrade Igboayaka O. Igboayaka, National President of Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC), called on Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu (SAN), Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), to maintain the commission’s ethical standards, threatening to seek his removal if evidence confirms the alleged bias of ICPC in favor of Governor Peter Mbah against Hon. Uche Nnaji regarding the 2027 Guber election.
*The Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC) revealed that the fight against Hon. Uche Nnaji is a battle for the Enugu Governorship and the “Lions Building Seat” in 2027, and dismissed the certificate forgery allegations against Uche Nnaji as a political distraction and blackmail.*
The surreptitious entry into the court by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission to obtain a court order detaining Hon Uche Nnaji is a teleguided executive overreach attributed to Gov Peter Mbah apparently aimed at silencing Hon Uche Nnaji, which is highly censurable.
The Council stated that “A court of competent jurisdiction is presently handling the unsubstantiated certificate forgery case, and the University of Nigeria Nsukka and Hon Uche Nnaji have opted for an out-of-court settlement, following recent findings of misinformation.
Therefore, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu (SAN), Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), should maintain a neutral stance regarding the Enugu State Governorship battle to preserve his reputation built through his legal career and public service, and avoid being perceived as succumbing to Governor Peter Mbah’s alleged attempts to utilize executive power to blackmail and witch-hunt Hon. Uche Nnaji.
The Ohanaeze Youth Council(OYC) warned Governor Peter Mbah to concentrate on fulfilling his unfulfilled campaign promises to Enugu State rather than chasing Hon Uche Nnaji through the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC)
News
Governor Mbah’s Compassionate Gesture Brings Relief to Enugu Fire Victims
Families displaced by the recent fire outbreak in the Asata area of Enugu have received immediate relief from the Enugu State Government following the intervention of Governor Peter Mbah, who directed that palliative support be provided to ease their suffering.
Chairman of the Enugu State Emergency Management Agency (ESEMA), Chinasa Mbah, disclosed that the agency promptly delivered the relief materials in compliance with the governor’s directive.
“We have given them some palliative as directed by His Excellency. Our report has equally gone in, and we await further instructions,” Mbah said.
She explained that ESEMA has completed its assessment of the incident and submitted its recommendations to the state government, adding that additional assistance for the affected families will depend on the governor’s approval of the agency’s report.
The swift response underscores Governor Mbah’s commitment to standing with citizens in times of distress. The victims, whose homes and belongings were destroyed in the fire that gutted two flats in a two-storey building on Church Road, Asata, are expected to receive further support as the government considers ESEMA’s recommendations.
News
Questions Persist As Almajiri Commissions Attempts to Defend Projects Outside Its Mandate
The National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children’s Education (NCAOOSCE) has defended the inclusion of projects outside its statutory mandate in the 2026 budget, insisting they are National Assembly constituency projects assigned to the commission for implementation.
However, the explanation has done little to quell public scrutiny, with critics questioning why a commission established to tackle the Almajiri system and out-of-school children—challenges largely concentrated in Northern Nigeria—is overseeing projects reportedly located in parts of the South-West.
The controversy has also been fuelled by concerns over the scale of the allocations, as the value of the disputed constituency projects is said to far exceed the funds earmarked for the commission’s core education programmes.
Responding to the criticism in a statement issued on Monday, the commission’s Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Nura Muhammad, said the projects were included in the 2026 Appropriation Act under the long-standing practice of assigning constituency projects to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) for execution.
According to the commission, once such projects are approved in the federal budget and allocated to an agency, they become part of its implementation responsibilities.
“As part of a duly enacted federal budget, every project assigned to the commission forms part of its implementation responsibilities and will be executed in strict compliance with extant laws, financial regulations and due procurement processes,” the statement said.
NCAOOSCE maintained that the inclusion of the projects does not alter its statutory mandate, stressing that it remains focused on addressing the Almajiri system and reducing the number of out-of-school children across Nigeria.
The commission cited its achievements, including the profiling of more than 700,000 out-of-school children, the establishment of 119 learning centres, ward-to-ward advocacy campaigns, and the implementation of the National Policy on Almajiri Education, as evidence of its commitment to its core responsibilities.
This version attributes the concerns to critics and public scrutiny rather than stating them as established facts.
News
Police Inspector Dies in Alleged Police Convoy Accident in Enugu
A Police Inspector, Dr. Obodo Paul Ikechukwu, has reportedly died after he was involved in a fatal road accident allegedly involving a police convoy in Enugu State.
The deceased, who hailed from Nkpologu in Enugu State, was serving in the Operations Department of the Enugu State Police Headquarters at the time of the incident.
Details surrounding the circumstances of the accident remain unclear, but sources said the inspector was fatally injured after being struck by a vehicle in a police convoy.
Dr. Obodo, who was also a PhD holder, was described by colleagues and associates as a dedicated officer whose death has come as a shock to members of the police command and his community.
As of the time of filing this report, the Enugu State Police Command had not issued an official statement on the incident, while further details are being awaited.
News
Mbaka Offers Prayers, Endorses Mbah’s Leadership Ahead of Election (See Video)
The Spiritual Director of the Adoration Ministry Enugu, , has offered prayers for , praying for God’s favour, protection, and victory as the state approaches the coming elections.
Speaking during a church gathering, Mbaka declared that Governor Mbah would succeed, expressing confidence that God, whom he said had begun a great work through the governor, would bring it to completion.
“It shall be well with Peter Mbah; may the favour of God be with him. We back him with our prayers. The Adoration family throws our prayers around him, that he will succeed, in the name of Jesus. May God grant him the power of victory at the end of the whole election,” Mbaka said.
The cleric further expressed hope that Mbah’s leadership would bring joy to the Igbo people, the people of Enugu State, and the Church, adding that the Igbo economy could witness greater advancement under his administration.
According to Mbaka, the progress recorded so far gives hope that greater achievements lie ahead, stressing that God would perfect the work already begun.
His remarks come as political activities continue to gather momentum ahead of the forthcoming elections.
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