State police, panacea for crime prevention – Minister – Royal News

Minister of Police Affairs, Senator Ibrahim Gaidam, has stated that the state police remain the best way to enhance local responsiveness, improve crime prevention and strengthen security at the grassroots level.

During the National Dialogue on State Policing with the theme: ‘Pathways to Peace: Reimaging Policing in Nigeria’ held in Abuja on Monday, the minister proposed a model for implementing state policing in Nigeria, suggesting a decentralized structure where every state manages its police. exert force within a framework that ensures cooperation and coordination with federal agencies.

He said: “This model would involve recruiting, training and equipping state police officers to meet professional standards while ensuring accountability and oversight mechanisms are in place.”

Gaidam also recommended an institutional and legal framework that delineates the roles, responsibilities and jurisdiction of state police within the broader national security architecture.

“This framework should include mechanisms for information sharing, cooperation and coordination among state and federal agencies to effectively address cross-border and transnational security challenges,” he stressed.

The Minister further reiterated the need for a comprehensive national dialogue involving stakeholders at all levels to deliberate on the implementation of the State Police in Nigeria, taking into account the unique challenges and opportunities present in the diverse socio-political landscape of the country.

“This dialogue should aim at building consensus on the way forward and developing a roadmap for the phased implementation of state police, ensuring that it contributes to enhancing security, upholding the rule of law and protecting the rights of all citizens across the country.” he explained.

Gaidam noted that the recent spate of kidnappings, banditry, terrorist activities and communal clashes have cast a dark shadow over our country and created fear, pain and insecurity among the people. have serious consequences for our economy, social cohesion and overall development.

However, Gaidam acknowledged that the state police force is not without challenges and that one potential drawback is the risk of political interference and abuse of power at the state level. Without proper checks and balances, state police forces could be manipulated for political gain or to suppress dissent, leading to a deterioration of the rule of law and human rights violations.

Also speaking, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, represented by the AIG Ben Okolo, listed challenges militating against the performance of the police including inadequate manpower; inadequate operational equipment – weapons and ammunition, communications equipment, drones, armored vehicles, and inadequate training, as well as offices and accommodation.

In his remarks, former President Goodluck Jonathan said: “There is no way we can manage internal security if the state government cannot have a state police force and the question is how it operates within the national security architecture.”

“We must focus on how it cannot be misused by state actors and the police must not be used for the benefit of sitting governors and the use of police for elections must be reviewed,” he advised.