Nigerians express different opinions on state policing...

With security concerns in Nigeria evolving daily, citizens are growing increasingly apprehensive about the government’s efforts to address the situation.

While the new Inspector-General of the Nigeria Police Force, Olatunji Disu, recently inaugurated a steering committee tasked with developing modalities for the establishment of state police, a move aimed at strengthening security at the grassroots, citizens are becoming sceptical about its implementation.

A civil servant, Femi Adeyemo, who shared his view on the matter said that the closer the policing system is to local communities, the safer society will likely become. According to him, decentralising policing would enhance response time and improve the ability of security agencies to address threats within communities more effectively.

The clamour for the creation of state police has not gone without Nigerians questioning how workable the system would be. They warned of possible hijacking by state governors for selfish political purposes.

Godwin Chukwudi, Head of Media at the National Youth Council of Nigeria, who said that the creation of state police is long overdue, argued that fears of governors hijacking the system should not halt the process. He advised that appropriate legal frameworks and oversight mechanisms be put in place to ensure the system operates effectively.

As the debate continues, many Nigerians say any decision on state police must prioritise security while ensuring proper checks to prevent abuse.