For the first time, the federal government and states governors have agreed to establish state police. The agreement was reached during an emergency meeting between president Bola Ahmed Tinubu and state governors to address the rising cases of insecurity and food crises in the country.
It could be recalled, several attempts were made in the past for the establishment of state police in other to complement the federal government own. There is no gainsaying facts, centralized security system has failed to address the security challenges bedevelling the country.
The Nigeria police force are grossly inadequate, overburden and underfunded. The United Nations (UN) has recommended one police to 300 citizens. However, in Nigeria, the ratio is 1 police to 400 Nigerians. With the rising spate of insecurity in the country such as: unknown gunmen, kidnapping and banditry, the proponents of state police have re-echo their voice and agitated for it.
Despite the facts calls for the creation of state police have never seen the light, overwhelmed security challenges had forced state governors to recruit local vigilante groups to assist them in the war against criminals in their respective states.
For instance, in the South-East states, there is Egbebua, South-West formed Amotekum, in the North-East, we have civilian JTF etc. It is no understatement to say, virtually, every state has recruited and funded its vigilante group. No wonder, in recent times, the country witnesses the proliferation of vigilante groups.
While these voluntary security outfits have been assisting government on the war against insecurity, their modus-operandi seems to be outdated and need total overhauling. The minister of information and National orientation, Mohammed Idris Malagi, stated that the creation of state police will be a continue process. That it meant, government will work out modalities for the successful establishment of state police.
But the time for it is now. Insecurity has continued to deteriorate, with government looking helpless. Hardly a day passes without bad news of banditry attacks or kidnapping of defenseless Nigerians.
Insecurity is what triggers inflation or the current soaring price of commodities. Many farming communities in Niger, Zamfara, Katsina and Kaduna states have been sacked by bandits. Besides, Nigeria practices federalism. Most of the countries which operate federalism run federal and state police. The U.S.A which Nigeria copies its federalism operates states police.
There is nothing wrong for Nigeria to adopt a state police. The National Assembly should quickly start the process of amending the 1999 constitution to give it a legal backing . In the course of the amendment, the legislative arm, needs to draw the boundaries between the operations of federal and state police.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is aware of the dire security challenges, should assent the bill into law to guarantee immediate take up. Yes, opponents of state police will come hard on it. They will argue on the likely abuse, funding and conflict between the duo security agencies. With the high rate of insecurity, state governors will have less time to abuse it. In addition, there is the need for “state police committee” comprising the state governor, security advisers, opposition parties, civil society organizations, traditional leaders, local government chairmen, retired military personnel etc. The committee will be meeting monthly to assess and review strategies.
On funding, state police needs to be funded through the monthly security votes, security trust funds, aids and other external sources. On recruitment, training and use of firearms, state governments should liase with the office of Inspector General of police. The states police are expected to work in pari-pasu or cooperate with the federal police in the area of intelligence sharing and general operations. The state police who are expected to be locally recruited would have a full knowledge of their terrains. If they work together as team with the federal police, the menace of insecurity can be easily contained.
Ibrahim Mustapha Pambegua, Kaduna State.
