Too much military visibility in democracy not good, ex-IG warns

Former Inspector-General of Police, Sunday Ehindero. Source: Sahara Reporters

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A former Inspector-General of Police, Sunday Ehindero, on Saturday warned that the increasing visibility of the military in the country was unhealthy for the democratic system being practised in Nigeria.

Ehindero, who spoke on behalf of retired IGs at the launch of two biographies of former Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, in Abuja, said while the military plays a crucial role in national security, its expanding presence in civil spaces should worry policymakers.

The retired police chief noted that the country’s security architecture needed to be restructured to address this concern.

He said, “The security architecture of this country needs to be rejigged. 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 — they are doing marvellously — it is not their fault. They should concentrate more on our borders to prevent these miscreants from coming into the country. Our territorial integrity must be maintained and protected.”

Ehindero also corrected some positions earlier expressed at the event, especially on policing, leadership continuity in the force, and the size of the Nigeria Police.

He dismissed claims that the country’s growing police population was a result of bad governance, arguing that Nigeria’s large population and persistent security challenges required an expanded police force.

“We are about 230 million people. When people retire, die or are dismissed, the police must be replenished. I disagree with the notion that we have more policemen because of bad governance,” he said.

The former IG, who had opposed state police for decades, said he now supports the idea following the introduction of new checks and balances in the proposed model.

“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 said.

He also urged the government to include retired police officers in ambassadorial appointments, recalling instances where senior officers were previously appointed as envoys.

On internal security leadership, Ehindero rejected criticism of the current National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, for being a former police officer, noting that several retired IGs had occupied similar national security roles in the past.

The former police chief’s remarks come at a time when the military is deployed across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory in support of the police to tackle banditry, terrorism, communal clashes and other security threats.

His comments also follow a series of recent coups in West Africa — including in Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Guinea — developments that have heightened concerns about democratic stability in the region and intensified debates about military influence in governance.

Earlier, former IG Usman Alkali Baba expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for what he described as renewed efforts to restore “police primacy” in internal security.

He praised the President’s recent directive withdrawing police personnel attached to what he called “undeserving” personalities.

“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. This was again made manifest by the recent Presidential Order on the withdrawal of police personnel attached to undeserving personalities.

“As far as my memory serves me, this is the first time that such an order will emanate directly from a sitting President. We tried to do it as IGPs, but we couldn’t make it. Let’s see how this one will work.”

The PUNCH journalist, Solomon, has five years experience covering crime, judiciary and defence beats.

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