Panacea to Nigeria’s lingering security challenges

Our government’s use of multi-pronged approaches in tackling Nigeria’s security challenges will yield no positive results unless and until sub-national governments are constitutionally empowered to have their own state police forces. The government’s execution of measures other than establishing state police forces will scratch the surface of the problem without solving it holistically. Despite the efforts, which the federal government has been making to stem the tide of perpetration of crimes in Nigeria, our country is still in the throes of asphyxiating security challenges.

Over the weeks, Nigeria was engulfed in acts of terrorism and banditry. An attack was launched in a church in Eruku, Kwara State, which led to the death of two persons and the abduction of some worshipers at the church. And hundreds of school children from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Niger State were herded into captivity by dare-devil terrorists. Before then, terrorists had raided Comprehensive Girls’ School in Kebbi State and abducted scores of students from there.

But  in reaction to these President Tinubu promised that he would recruit more police and military officers to increase the numerical strength of security personnel in Nigeria. Doing that will be a judicious act. It is an indisputable fact that we need more boots on the ground to combat terrorism, banditry, and Boko Haram insurgency.

And more importantly, our president has given impetus to our people’s clamour for the establishment of state police in Nigeria. He has given directive to the National Assembly regarding that. The establishment of state police in Nigeria, it is believed, will be the magic wand and silver bullet that would solve our country’s lingering security challenges given the fact that our country has humungous population and large landmass. The fact is that Nigeria is too big to be policed, centrally. And the number of police officers in our country is too small for policing our large population.

If each state in Nigeria has its own police force, it will help a great deal in reducing the high incidence of perpetration of crimes in Nigeria. State police officers who serve in their home state are familiar with their people’s culture and their state’s terrains. As the state police officers are from the same ethnic group as the people they are protecting, the state police officers can coax the people into volunteering intelligence reports to them.

Again, when state police force is established, which will be under the headship of a state governor, there will be swift and immediate response to distress calls. As the governor calls the shot, bureaucratic bottlenecks and red-tapism that hinder the police officers’ performance of their duties will be drastically reduced.

More so, a decentralised police force will be more effective in combating crimes and maintaining law and order in the state as the state government can recruit enough police officers to police the state. Contrast that situation with our federally controlled police force, which is understaffed.

Lastly, the establishment of state police force will be in tandem with the features and principles of federalism. The establishment of state police is the way to go in the fight to rid Nigeria of criminal elements. And it will guarantee us political stability.

Chiedu Uche Okoye, Uruowulu-Obosi, Anambra state

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