A former Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Sunday Ehindero, on Saturday issued a strong caution against the increasing presence of the military in civil spaces, warning that the practice is “unhealthy” for Nigeria’s democratic system.
Speaking in Abuja at the launch of two biographies of former IGP Usman Alkali Baba, Ehindero argued that the country’s security architecture urgently needs to be rejigged to reverse the military’s expanding role in internal affairs.
Military Should Focus on Borders
The retired police chief emphasized that while the military’s counter-insurgency efforts are commendable, their primary focus should be the nation’s territorial integrity and borders, leaving civil policing to the appropriate law enforcement agency.
“With apologies to the military here, too much military visibility in a democracy is not good. While I praise them for the work they are doing—it is not their fault. They should concentrate more on our borders to prevent these miscreants from coming into the country,” Ehindero stated.
The warning comes at a critical time, as the Nigerian military is currently deployed across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to support the police in tackling terrorism, banditry, and communal conflicts. His comments also resonate with regional concerns following a series of recent coups in West Africa that have heightened debates about military influence in governance.
Policy Reversals and Support for State Police
Ehindero also offered new perspectives on key security policies, confirming a significant reversal of his long-held stance against state policing.
“I have been against the establishment of state police for 30 years. But this time, when I saw the details, I embraced it. It is a step in the right direction, considering banditry, terrorism and other crimes,” he confirmed to Hobnob News.
He further rejected criticisms regarding the increasing size of the Nigeria Police Force, arguing that the expansion is necessary to cope with Nigeria’s growing population, estimated at over 230 million, and persistent security challenges, dismissing claims that the growth was a result of bad governance.
Restoring Police Primacy
Meanwhile, the immediate past IGP, Usman Alkali Baba, expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for renewed efforts aimed at restoring the police to its primary role in internal security.
Alkali Baba praised the President’s recent directive to withdraw police personnel attached to “undeserving” personalities, stating the move was unprecedented.
“I am profoundly grateful to His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu, for his consistent action directed at restoring dwindling police primacy in the internal security architecture… As far as my memory serves me, this is the first time that such an order will emanate directly from a sitting President,” he said.
