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From Noah Ebije, Kaduna; Tony John; Port Harcourt; Scholastica Hir, Makurdi; Okey Sampson, Umuahia and George Onyjiuwa, Owerri
In view of the prevailing insecurity in the country, President Bola Tinubu has mooted the idea of establishing the state police to check the security crisis. In this report, some Nigerians examine the ability or otherwise of the state police to comprehensively tackle the security challenges, as well as the possibility of governors abusing the system.
Current police system can’t fight insecurity – Gov Uba Sani, Kaduna
I am one of the prominent voices on the issue of security. When I was in the Senate, I moved the motion for the creation of state police. We have realised that, there are not enough boots on ground. The current police force is inadequate and ineffective to fight insecurity. That was why we felt that, if there was state police, every community like Kuriga would have people in the state police and they would be armed with AK47 rifles. That is the only way we would be able to protect the lives and property of the citizens.
State police can curtail insecurity in states – Prof Barnes Anger, Rector, Akawe Torkula Polytechnic, Makurdi
State police connotes that there will be a force arranged by a state to deal with security challenges within that state. This means that the preoccupation of the force is to deal with security challenges within the jurisdiction of the state. The person to be recruited into this force should as a vital ingredient, be recruited from men and women of proven integrity who have proper knowledge of the economic, political, cultural, social, and ideological realities of the state. They must also have good knowledge of those who make up that state. If this is meticulously and selflessly done, state police have the potential to curtail insecurity in the state significantly.
We cannot stop travelling because automobile accidents occur. In the same way, we cannot stop putting a state police in place because of abuse. They won’t be outlaws. They should function within the ambit of the law.
Laws governing federal police should govern state police – Michael Onaji, electrical engineer, Makurdi
Yes, it might improve the security situation if properly funded and equipped. Except we are saying the president is presently abusing the federal police. If he is not, then the governors would not. I feel that the same law governing the federal police should also govern state police to prevent it from being abused.
Govs should have total control of security in states -Justin Gbagir, lawyer, Benue
Everything that has advantages has disadvantages, but in this case, we have to see which weighs more. That some governors are corrupt or have abused the powers of their office didn’t stop us from having governors. So for me, I’m in support of having state police so that each governor will have a security arrangement that he will be in total control of and that he can use to ensure peace and order in his domain. I’m in total support of it. Currently, almost all the governors are having a security outfit which is not constitutional. But if they have a state police, it will be recognised by the constitution and would help to curtail the security situation in the country.
Govs will use it to witch-hunt political enemies – Celestine Kanu, ex-civil servant, Abia
Establishment of state police as being canvassed in some quarters, cannot stop insecurity in the country, but instead will be prone to abuse by state governors. It will not only worsen the security situation, it will also heighten political tension. State governors will use state police to witch hunt their political enemies instead of focusing on fighting insecurity.
Govs will use it for political compensation – Nze Agumba, pharmacist, Abia
Having state police in place will breed confusion as they are bound to be on a collision course with the federal police. Governors would want to use it for political compensation.
Govs won’t allow state police operate freely – Gloria Okoro, civil servant, Abia
I oppose the establishment of state police because it is going to have negative effect on society. I’m afraid that state governors would not give them the free hand to operate thereby compounding the security situation of the country.
State police personnel would take sides with their ethnic, religious groups – Anthony Sani, ex-scribe, ACF, Kaduna
State police whose personnel are ill trained and not fully equipped as well as not well motivated cannot be the magic wand in securing the nation. There will be problem of abuse by state governors reminiscent of how state electoral commissions have been abused to kill democracy at the local government level.
What about conflicts between the federal and state police? What is more, in states which are diverse, state police personnel would take sides with their ethnic or religious groups during conflicts.
Without proper laws, govs will abuse state police – Rev. Emmanuel Olorunmagba, RMNN, Kaduna
The federal government must ensure policies that will checkmate state governors to avoid the situation where state police will be turned to witch-hunting tools against perceived opponents. We have been witnessing the situations in this country where politicians use every power within their reach to persecute and witch-hunt those regarded as opponents especially state governors. If proper laws are not put in place to checkmate excesses, obviously some governors will turn the state police against some people in their states, instead of against bandits that are terrorising the people, thus making it counterproductive.
It is capable of abating insecurity if properly handled – Festus Ogwuche, lawyer, Rivers
Yes, state police will expand the frontiers of the law enforcement mechanism within the states and enhance the security network generally in the country. It definitely has the capacity to strengthen the overall national security as it will fill the gaps in the area of the weaknesses and cover the grounds in the inadequacy of the current policing frameworks.
It will involve recruiting the locals from within the communities that constitute the state and personnel that understand the landscape and know the people. By that, the world of criminals could be busted and reduced within constricted space. If they are adequately armed, properly trained and with the right personnel and focused in the right direction of policing and law enforcement duties, yes, it is capable of abating to a good degree the high level insecurity this country is witnessing currently. But fears that the politicians could turn them into a militia as personal goons and attack dogs to pursue their opponents and perceived enemies are not unfounded.
It can provide more localised law enforcement – Obinna Ebogidi, social crusader, Rivers
Certainly, state police, if well-trained and properly managed, can provide more localised and responsive law enforcement, as they will be more familiar with the specific security challenges within their jurisdictions. They can complement federal law enforcement agencies and address security issues that may require immediate attention at the state or community level.
However, concerns arise regarding the potential for abuse of power by state governors who might use state police forces for political purposes or to suppress dissent.
State police will reduce insecurity – Prince Wiro, media practitioner, Rivers
State police will drastically reduce insecurity compared to the policing system we have now. State police is localised and don’t forget that the personnel to be employed are members of communities who know their terrain very well. Of course, some governors might want to abuse it.
It will mitigate insecurity – Chilos Godsent, president, INC, Imo
The Igbo National Council (INC) Worldwide supports the proposal for state police. The amendment of the 1999 Constitution to allow for the establishment of state police fully funded and controlled by the various state governments will help mitigate the spread of insecurity in the country. It will boost employment and reduce corruption in the police services.
Let it not be ‘who pays the piper dictates the tune’ – Most Rev Geoffrey Okorafor, Anglican Bishop, Imo
I will look at it from two perspectives. Having a state police is a welcome development, it depends. It is also a great error, it also depends. What I am saying is that, they should tread with caution. When the state police come into existence, let it not be a situation of who pays the piper dictates the tune. The governors should be made to know that the state police are not going to be their personal security guards to be used to achieve their whims and caprices or hijack it for their selfish reasons. If the state police is eventually established, let there be stringent rules against being hijacked by the state governors because they pay them, and they start using them against their political opponents and their perceived enemies in the state. By that it will become counter-productive.
They will deal with insecurity in their areas – Chiso Kingsley, businessman, Imo
Security is local and I think that the state police and even local government police will be able to deal with the issues of insecurity in their areas. This is because they know the terrain very well as they are from these communities. I know that Nigerians are afraid of it being abused by the governors. The law establishing it should make the state Houses Assembly the confirming authority and the House should be the one sacking the state police chiefs.
