Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has asserted that the controversial “Bakassi Boys” security model, which spread across several southeastern states in the early 2000s, was entirely his initiative and was expanded to neighboring states under his guidance.
Speaking live from Abuja during an interview FROM 3:55 with Arise News on Sunday, July 12, 2026, the lawmaker representing Abia North Senatorial District reflected on his tenure as Governor of Abia State (1999–2007) amid ongoing national legislative debates surrounding the creation of state police.
Responding to questions about historical abuses linked to regional vigilante groups, Kalu defended his record and claimed direct credit for the proliferation of the security outfit across the Southeast region.
“I was the one who extended the same Bakassi model to Anambra State, and later to Imo and Enugu, possibly because it was truly my initiative,” Kalu stated.
The former governor maintained that during his administration, the outfit operated strictly within the law and in close synergy with state actors, including the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS). He argued that the model effectively eliminated violent crime in Abia State at the time, dismissing allegations of systemic abuse during his oversight.
The Bakassi Boys, a militant vigilante group initially formed by market traders to combat rampant armed robbery, became officially recognized by several southeastern state governments at the turn of the millennium. While credited with sharply reducing crime rates initially, the group later drew heavy criticism from civil rights organizations for alleged human rights violations, extrajudicial killings, and political weaponization before being largely disbanded or reorganized.
Kalu’s remarks come at a critical juncture as the 10th National Assembly advances constitutional amendments to transition from a single centralized police force to a framework permitting both federal and state police services….See More