THERE are widespread claims that we suffer from not having enough police in Nigeria. The reality is, as you would expect in such an insecure society, that the number of staff in police type organisations is huge. The actual staff number of the Nigerian Police Force is relatively low, but when other police-like personnel are added, we have a fantastic number.
The Nigerian Police Force (NPF) has approximately 370,000 officers across the country. The ratio of police officers to citizens – one to approximately every 600 citizens – is lower than the UN-recommended rate of one to every 450 people. However, if we add in other forces doing work normally undertaken by police then the figures change dramatically.
There are several other Federal level bodies doing police-type work (totalling an extra 325,000 staff). The largest is the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) with 21,000 active regular (uniformed) personnel. Supported by a massive volunteer network of over 153,000 Special Marshals. So, we could say they represent an additional 170,000 police-type staff in total.
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Then we have the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). They have over 60,000 staff. They may take on more staff as they are to take over protection of VIPs from the Police. We also have the Nigerian Forest Security Service (NFSS). This has over 48,000 trained officers and volunteers. Another 10,000 more staff were announced by the President on Democracy Day 2026. So, perhaps a total staff complement of60,000.
There are also a range of more informal Community Vigilante Groups. Various states maintain such independent vigilante groups. These may be co-ordinated and supported by the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (claiming over three million vigilante’s). Examples include the Benue State Civil Protection Guards (with 5,000 trained staff), Edo State Security Corps (ESSC), Kaduna Vigilance Service (KADVS) and Rivers State Neighbourhood Security Corps.
Department of State Service (DSS) has an estimated workforce of tens of thousands. This organisation originated as part of colonial police force. So perhaps another 20,000police-type officials.
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There are a couple of other federal bodies doing specialist police-type work. This includes the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) with perhaps 10,000 staff. It also includes the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) with over 10,000 staff. Perhaps half of these officials are doing police-type work. So, 5,000more quasi-police officers.
This would mean that the total federal officers doing police-type work in Nigeria is 695,000 or more than one per 350 people. This is well beyond the UN recommended figure of 450.
In addition, to the Federal officers, we have many state-level paramilitary and vigilante groups currently operating including the following who may include well over three million people.
There are various official vigilante groups in several states whose numbers are not necessarily clearly know. These include the Amotekun Corps: (Western Nigeria Security Network). This has perhaps 10,000 members. The Ebube Agu in the South East geopolitical zone is another official vigilante group. In the North-East, there is the Civilian Joint Task Forces. This has perhaps 30,000 members in Borno Sate alone.
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There are also a range of more informal Community Vigilante Groups. Various states maintain such independent vigilante groups. These may be co-ordinated and supported by the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (claiming over three million vigilante’s). Examples include the Benue State Civil Protection Guards (with 5,000 trained staff), Edo State Security Corps (ESSC), Kaduna Vigilance Service (KADVS) and Rivers State Neighbourhood Security Corps.
Man O’ War (www.manowarng.org) a voluntary, state-sanctioned paramilitary and citizenship training organisation. This operates across all the different states. It is often used as a reserve force for local community policing, safety, and rescue operations. Its website claims over 200,000 members.
The Hisbah corps are predominantly active in Northern Nigerian states like Kano (over 10,000 staff), Jigawa (750 staff), and Katsina (over 10,000 staff). The Hisbah is a state-backed board that enforces societal compliance with Sharia law and provides community policing.
In addition, to the formal and informal staff working in and with police and security-type bodies, much of the security work is out-sourced to private security firms. It is estimated that there may be over 825,000 private security guards employed across more than 1,000 registered companies in the country. This is nearly one security guard for every 300 people or nearly twice the staff of the Federal Police Force.
Partially as a reaction to rising insecurity, the number of police-type personnel has increased massively over the last few years. It has not led to a reduction in insecurity.
We are suffering one of the highest levels of unemployment and inequality in the world. As a result, crime and insecurity are extremely high. As well as suffering directly from economic and physical insecurity, we are also suffering from the extremely high cost of policing this society. Federal agencies doing police-type work have far higher levels of staff than that recommended by the UN. These Federal staff are dwarfed by state, private and informal security bodies. In addition, most communities pay for their own local security services.
Adding official state police forces to the mix will just increase the vast number of police-type operatives and further multiply the number of their organisations.
Nkechi, a member of Socialist Labour, writes from Abuja.
