- Egbetokun said establishment of state police to tackle the perennial security crisis in Nigeria portends danger for the country
The Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, has expressed his reservation on the creation of State police in Nigeria.
Egbetokun said establishment of state police to tackle the perennial security crisis in Nigeria portends danger for the country.
For years on end, there have been calls to give more power to the State Governors to enable them combat the crimes and insecurity in their domain.
The clamour for states’ control of certain security architecture has led to the growing call for the establishment states’ police
To this end, President Bola Tinubu and the state governors had on February 16 agreed to establish state police in the country as part of measures to stem the rising tide of insecurity.
The agreement was one of the focal point of an emergency meeting summoned by the President at the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa, Abuja, over escalating economic hardship and insecurity in different parts of the country.
But speaking at a one-day dialogue on state policing, the nation’s police chief made his position on the matter know.
He explained that the country was not ready for states’ police, adding that Nigeria needed more time to prepare for such switch in security arrangements.
According to the IGP, establishing state police will worsen the prevailing socio-political challenges in the country.
He explained that ethnic tensions will exacerbate, leading to divided loyalty in the states.
Represented by AIG Ben Okolo, the Inspector General of Police further argued that establishing state police will also lead to multiple state command structures.
He also said that state governors are likely to abuse the privilege of state police by using it for political gains, leading to possible abuse of power and abuse of human rights