The Nation Newspaper

Tag: STATE POLICE

  • Is Nigeria ripe for state police?

    The clamour for state police has returned to the front burner of national discourse, following the deteriorating security situation in the country. A panel set up last year by President Muhammadu Buhari has also recently submitted its report, recommending the establishment of state and community policing. Deputy Political Editor RAYMOND MORDI examines the prospects and constraints of decentralised police.

    WITH the deteriorating security situation in the country, the general perception is that the current centralised police could not provide adequate security cover for Nigerians. The Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast, which started 10 years ago, but escalated during the dying days of the Jonathan administration was the first serious threat to national security. Before then, kidnapping of expatriate oil workers had started in the Niger Delta region as a money-making scheme. Today, the idea of kidnapping and ransom taking has gradually spread to other parts of the country. The security situation has been compounded by the escalating incidence of cattle rustling and banditry in the Northwest and farmers-herders clashes in the North-Central region.

    The national outcry engendered by the development has put the Muhammadu Buhari administration under pressure to do something to address the situation. One of the recurring suggestions aimed at dousing the situation is the idea of the creation of state police.

    There has been an increasing clamour for state police in recent times. State police is not new in Nigeria. It existed during the First Republic as Regional and Native Authority Police Forces. The officers were derived from the communities and with the advantage of shared common language and culture, crime prevention and containment at the early stages were relatively easy. Federal police officers, on the other hand, till date are posted randomly to states where the cooperation of the local populace is essential in carrying out effective policing. The abolition of Regional and Native Authority Police, which gave way to a unified police force, significantly weakened security at the grassroots level.

    The clamour for state police is part and parcel of the agitation for restructuring. This is based on the premise that there ought to be devolution of powers in a federal set up, to provide the opportunity for the federating units to handle certain things such as security that can best be tackled at that level.

    Nevertheless, owing to the fact that it is an inconvenient truth that is viewed with suspicion by the political elite, successive governments have not had the political will to confront the idea of restructuring once and for all and decide whether it is desirable or not.

    The clamour for state police returned to the front-burner recently when a panel set up by President Muhammadu Buhari recommended its establishment of community policing at the ‘state and local government levels. The panel, which was set up in August last year, recently submitted its report to the President.

    But, the question on the lips of those demanding for a genuine federal structure for the country is, how far is President Buhari willing to go? Is he prepared to set the machinery on motion to realise the said objective? This is because the establishment of state and community police is a constitutional matter and one of the issues that those clamouring for a new federal constitution have been demanding to see in a future constitutional amendment.

    Observers say the crux of the matter is whether the federal authorities are willing to alter the revenue sharing formula, by giving more resources to the states to shoulder the increasing responsibility that will result from moving items from the Exclusive List to the Concurrent List. Under the current revenue sharing formula, the Federal Government gets 52.68 per cent from the federal purse, the states 26.72 per cent and the local governments 20.60 per cent, with 13 per cent derivation revenue going to the oil-producing states.

    Others have also pointed at issues such as the problem of jurisdiction between the federal police and its states counterpart, as well as the possibility of state governors who are the chief security officers in their domains using it against political opponents.

    Elder statesman and Second Republic politician, Alhaji Tanko Yakassai is one of those who subscribes to the view that it would become a weapon in the hands of desperate politicians. He said politicians at various levels will end up recruiting their supporters and use same against their opponents.

    His words: “Establishment of state and community police will only worsen the situation, because at the rate we are now going when they are going to recruit the personnel party supporters would be the beneficiaries. So, the introduction of local government and state police at this point in time would constitute a death warrant to democracy in Nigeria.

    “There is need for synergy between the Federal Government and the federating units in tackling the security challenge facing the country. The idea of community and state police is being contemplated now because the Federal Government is only interested in a short term solution to the issue of crime and criminality that is currently bedeviling the country. To achieve a meaningful result, government must undertake a comprehensive study. The problem in Nigeria is that of inadequate manpower in the police. The government must decide how it intends to raise money to pay for the additional personnel that would be recruited to augment the shortfall in the number of men required in the force.

    “But, if President Buhari decides to go for state and community policing, he would be creating another problem in the process of trying to solve one.”

    Yakassai said those calling for restructuring are not serious because they have not produced a blueprint to support the idea they are canvassing for. He said that is the same way the ruling APC canvassed for ‘change’ prior to the 2015 general elections without stating exactly what they meant by that. He added: “Now the APC is talking about ‘Next Level’. These are what I describe as mere sloganeering. We are yet to come to terms with their change mantra, now they are talking about ‘Next Level’.

    “The current problem of banditry in the country was caused by the upsurge in cattle rustling in parts of the north. Cattle rustling led to Fulanis engaging in banditry. This is because cattle rearers inherited those cattles from their parents and all of a sudden they are being  taken away through cattle rustling. In the process, all their life savings are taken away, so there is no other alternative but to resort to banditry.”

    Governor Kayode Fayemi said recently at a security summit in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State that the quest for the creation of state police by some governors, groups and individuals was not intended to undermine the existing federal police, the Nigeria Police Force.

    The Ekiti State governor who is also the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) spoke during the summit tagged, “Stakeholders’ Security Summit: Focus on Western Nigeria”.

    He said the security situation in the country has warranted that each state has its own police and that the existing federal police and the state police would work together when states are allowed to have their own police.

    Fayemi said what was obtainable in other countries where federalism is being practiced is that, federal and state police work side by side without engaging in unhealthy rivalry.

    For retired police commissioner and activist, Alhaji Abubakar Tsav, it will take a long time before such an idea would come on stream. He believes the President cannot approve the establishment of community policing without constitutional amendment. He said: “I don’t think that is true because he cannot approve the establishment of local government and state police unless the constitution is amended. Without amending the constitution, the President has no powers to give instructions for the establishment of local government and state police. You don’t approve the establishment of community policing by word of mouth.

    “I have said it times without number that state and community policing is a good idea, but our politicians are too corrupt and immature and they will use it against their political opponents. If we had state police in places like Rivers, Kano and Zamfara during the recent general elections, they would have used it against political opponents. We are not yet matured for it.”

    The National Chairman of the United Progressive Party (UPP), Chief Chekwas Okorie, said it is a good development, if it is true that President Muhammadu Buhari acceded to demands for the establishment of state and community policing. His words: “If President Buhari did that I would sincerely commend him. In my manifesto in 2015 when I ran for president, I made emphasis on state police and community policing. During the presidential debate, where I squared up against former President Goodluck Jonathan and a few others, I also made emphasis on that.

    “I am very passionate about it, because I believe very strongly that it would go a long way in policing our various communities. Not only that, it would also provide jobs for the people at the local level, because they are the ones that understand the communities where they live. They can identify a new face in the community and people in the area that are living a wayward lifestyle.

    “So, it would be an exponential improvement in the curbing of crimes, because most crimes begin at the local level. Even when a criminal has done something in another area and escapes to his community, they can easily be identified, picked up and handed over to the authorities.

    “It is something that previous governments lacked the political will to do. If President Buhari has done that, then he would have scored a major milestone in the political leadership in this country.”

    Okorie said though state police is just one of the things Nigerians have been clamouring for, the establishment of state and community policing would be the right way to go, since insecurity is the biggest problem facing the country at the moment. He said: “In this situation, tackling the most pressing problem is the right way to go. Otherwise, calling for a national conference to put all the problems facing the country on the table would be another way of tackling the multiple challenges in the country. But, this may take time. Given that the security challenge has assumed an emergency proportion or that the country is in a state of war, the policing angle would be the quickest way of tackling the problem.”

  • ‘How state police, NSIP can fight crime’

    As government is toying with the idea of state police, the founder of the Ekiti Youth Movement, Lanre Ajegbomogun, has said crime control is doomed to fall short, if the Federal Government fails to adequately equip the Nigerian Police Force (NPF).

    He also called for the expansion of the National Social Investments Programme (NSIP) to capture more Nigerians.

    In a statement issued in Lagos, Ajegbomogun said the Federal Government should aggressively continue and expand its NSIP to capture more Nigerians wallowing in poverty, unemployment and others, while the 36 states need to be made to buy into the NSIP at their level.

    Read Also: I am for state police, says el-Rufai

    According to the youth leader, that the wife of the President, Aisha Buhari could criticize the NSIP, shows that the programme is only a drop in the ocean and it needs to be radically expanded to accommodate millions of jobless youths and the poor.

    While lauding Vice President Yemi Oshibajo empowerment programme for women and traders, he said same should also be extended to the youths that have graduated from schools, who are without jobs.

  • Bishop backs creation of state police

    The Archbishop of Lagos Province and Diocesan Bishop of Lagos Mainland of the African Church, the Most Reverend Julius Ogunseye, has expressed support for creation of state police, saying it will fix the nation’s security challenges.

    The clergyman also urged Nigerians to embrace peace, noting that only a peaceful atmosphere can aid the rapid development of the country.

    Ogunseye made the remarks in a sermon he delivered on Easter Sunday at the African Church Salem Cathedral, Ebute Metta, Lagos.

    He said: “As a nation let us always embrace peace. I heard in the news yesterday that about 11 people were killed leaving several injured in Makurdi, Benue State while they were in the church by unknown gunmen.

    “I am appealing to our federal government to enact the laws that will allow the creation of state police. We are not safe again in this country.’’

    The clergyman also called for the retraining of policemen as way of curbing or reducing their unprofessional conduct on duty and extra-judicial killing of citizens.

    ‘’Our police officers need to go for retraining. Our police colleges must be restructured. It seems there is a huge gap between the training from the colleges and the real life situation.

    ‘’In Nigeria today, if you make a mistake instead of our police to correct you, they will always want to capitalise on your error and will want to extort you.

    “The way our police do go about extra judicial killings these days is becoming totally unacceptable.

    ‘’Also, the way our brothers and sisters are being killed in Diaspora looks like we do not have recognition in the international scene or we do not have external affairs ministry.”

  • Police arrest 500 suspected miscreants in Kano

    Kano State Police Command said on Thursday it had arrested about 500 suspected miscreants otherwise  known as “Yan’daba”, in continuation of its security strategy aimed at ensuring hitch-free 2019 general elections.

    The Command’s Public Relations Officer,DSP Abdullahi Haruna, made  this known while parading the suspects  at the police headquarters in Kano.

    He noted that the suspects were arrested in hideouts and black spots, saying  the suspects were members of ‘Yan’daba, political thugs, drug dealers and addicts.

    Haruna explained that those arrested were in possession of dangerous weapons such as sticks, sword and charms, adding that hard drugs like Diazapam, valium 5, Indian hemp, solution, suck and die were also recovered from them.

    The PPRO said that the suspects would be arraigned on Thursday.

  • State police: Learning from history

    Security coupled with consciousness is an age-long socio-cultural universal which is to a certain extent, everybody’s responsibility within a given community or nation. Police and policing are primarily for ensuring security/protection of lives and property of a group or groups of people. However, these two phenomena are time-and space- bound, even though the common feature remains the maintenance of law and order. Human survival and progress are anchored to fine-grained, responsible and de-politicised security architecture.

    The Nigeria Police Force was established in 1820 when Calabar was the capital of what later became Nigeria – a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural geo-polity of about 923,768 square kilometres. But before the country’s entanglements with Europe, starting from the mid-15th century or thereabouts, the various ethnicities occupying the broad territory had their own indigenous knowledge systems of peace promotion or maintenance of law and order. Two of these security control mechanisms entail the activities of local hunters and secret societies. In other words, rural communities depended heavily on hunters (great ‘surveyors’ of the local landscapes) for policing among other things. It is important to note here, that most rural Nigerian communities still depend on hunters for security purposes. Similarly, such secret societies as the Ogboni and Ekpe among the Yoruba and Efik respectively were well known for fighting crimes and criminality during the pre-colonial and early colonial periods. They were the guardians of domestic and public morality.

    The above secret societies were good in detecting crimes and punishing criminals or wrongdoers in accordance with local customs and ethics. These indigenous law enforcement agencies fell into disuse in the face of European proselytism/cultural domination during the colonial period. However, local hunters retain some elements of their role as police officers up to now especially in the rural settlements. This means that local police and policing were not new to Nigeria right from the pre-colonial period (starting from 1861). But this was thoroughly abused during the First Republic by the local politicians particularly in the Old Western and Mid-Western Regions.

    It is on record, that corpses of humans were occasionally dumped in the compounds of political enemies in order to incriminate them. This primitive attitude rubbished the foundations of Nigeria’s corporate morality in the First Republic. The vestigial traces of this savage culture can still be seen in today’s police system and by extension, political administration in Nigeria. There is need to review lessons of history as a pre-condition for engineering a new course for the future of Nigeria. Who will save us from ourselves? Police brutality coupled with impunity rules our political landscape from one administration to the other. The residences of the senate president and his deputy were recently surrounded by the Nigerian security men in a siege.

    Demons were let loose in September 2014, when some political thugs or hooligans invaded the High Court premises in Ado-Ekiti. The judge was seriously beaten up and his suit as well as official court records were torn into pieces. What a crying shame! All these atrocities were committed with the connivance of the police authorities. In November of the same year, another unspeakable act of political recklessness was committed by the power brokers of Ekiti State politics through the lens of police connivance. In this regard, seven out of 26 members of the Ekiti State House of Assembly impeached their speaker.  The list of cases of impunity by the police and of course, the political class is long. It is a pity, that members of the Nigerian political class (with a few exceptions) continue to hold in subjection the people and of course, the democracy they are supposed to protect.

    State police system is a good concept which is not alien to many parts of the global village like the US and Britain. Indeed, in the US, State police also known as Highway Patrol, State Highway Patrol and State Troopers carry out law enforcement activities including criminal investigations across each state. They collaborate with the local police in order to address complicated criminal cases. Therefore, state police and local police systems are a necessity as opposed to an option in Nigeria. But members of the political class have to first of all, restructure their chaotic minds that smack of savagery. Nigeria might be moving out of the frying pan into the fire if we put the cart before the horse.

    It is a deceit and an illusion to begin to compare the Nigerian politicians with their counterparts in the developed economies. We have a lot of things to gain from the developed nations with a special emphasis on security architecture and management at the local, state and federal levels.

    In my opinion, introducing a state police system is not the automatic magic bullet for peace and stability in Nigeria. The calibre of the drivers of the system matters a great deal. This scenario underscores the reason why the methods of electing our leaders need to be overhauled, so that only broad-minded Nigerians with a zero tolerance for nepotism, and religious bigotry are in charge. People with narrow, bigoted mentality are totally unfit to lead a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural geo-polity like Nigeria. Although the current size (less than 400,000) of the Nigerian Police is not enough for the country with a human population of 200 million or thereabouts, the culture of partiality of the political class, especially at the federal level, is a bigger devil to wrestle with.

    The Police Service Commission saddled with the responsibility of overseeing and controlling the activities of the above security men appears to be helpless. Consequently, it remains a sleeping giant while Nigeria is on the brink of collapse. It is the duty of the Police Service Commission to ensure that the police operate within the confines of the rule of law. This is in addition to such virtues as merit and integrity. Without this new philosophy, state police, local government police and even village police would remain a burden for innocent Nigerians to bear. The recent upsurge of public interest in state police reflects to a large extent, the frustration of the Nigerian people who can no longer sleep or travel on our roads without becoming prayer warriors willy-nilly.

    Nigeria urgently needs a new politics devoid of brazenness, lies and cruel deception. Today, an undisciplined, arrogant and irresponsible governor blatantly abuses his position as the chief security officer, sometimes (and painfully so) with the connivance of the almighty centre. This is how our political leaders heap indignities on the populace, as they (leaders) promote double standards of morality with unfettered shamelessness. Such devious attitudes send social justice, fair play, and by extension, sustainable peace as well as progress to the guillotine. Nigerians have to be very proactive in order to ensure that state police system (if or when it becomes a reality) does not lead to greater upheavals in our fragile democracy.

     

    • Professor Ogundele is of Dept. of Archaeology & Anthropology, University of Ibadan.

  • ‘State police panacea for security of life, property’

    The Chairman of House Services Committee of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Fatai Oluwa, has said state police is the best remedy to secure the lives and property of residents in these trying times in the country.

    Oluwa, who represents Ajeromi-Ifelodun Constituency II, was reacting to the continued attacks on communities and killing across the country, especially by armed bandits.

    The most recent of such attacks was in Zamfara State where 42 people were killed and several communities were razed.

    The lawmaker noted that the police had proven to be incapable of tackling sundry security issues in the land, except in a state like Lagos.

    He said: “Currently, Lagos is the most secured state in Nigeria. This is because Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and the House of Assembly had their strategies from the beginning. It is no news again that the state government invests heavily in security, being a primary responsibility.

    “To shore up the needed manpower for security of life and property in the state, the lawmakers passed the Neighbourhood Watch Bill sponsored by Speaker Mudashiru Obasa. We are all witnesses to the positive results from these concepts and ideas.”

    The lawmaker noted that the call for state police does not mean the nation’s original law enforcement agency should be scrapped.

    According to him, the state and the national security agencies would play complementary roles.

    Oluwa said: “We have always complained about the inadequate number of policemen to secure the surging population.

    “There is also this genuine argument that most policemen posted to states are strangers and that they hardly understand the languages spoken in their areas of assignment. Of course, there is a relationship between language, culture and safety.”

    Oluwa hailed Vice President Yemi Osinbajo for standing firm in his argument for the creation of state police.

  • State police, only remedy to secure lives, property – Lawmaker

    Chairman of the House Services committee of the Lagos state House of Assembly, Hon Fatai Oluwa has said that state police is the best remedy to secure lives and properties in this trying times the country is passing through.

    Oluwa, who represents Ajeromi-Ifelodun constituency 2, said this in reaction to the continued attacks on communities and killing across the country, especially by armed bandits.

    The most recent of such attacks in Zamfara state led to the death of at least 42 people and the razing of communities.

    The lawmaker noted that over time, the Nigeria police had proven to be seriously challenged in securing lives and properties, except in a state like Lagos.

    “Currently, Lagos is the most secured state in Nigeria and this is because Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and the Lagos state House of Assembly had their strategies from the beginning. It is no news again that the state government invests heavily on security being a primary responsibility.

    “To shore up the needed manpower for security of lives and properties in the state, the lawmakers passed the Neighbourhood Watch bill sponsored by Speaker Mudashiru Obasa. We are all witnesses to the positive results from these concepts and ideas,” he said.

    The lawmaker noted that the call for state police does not mean the nation’s original law enforcement agency should be scrapped.

    Read Also: Insecurity: Ex-envoys back ranching, state Police

    According to him, the state and the national security agencies would play complementary roles. We have always complained about the inadequate number of policemen to secure the surging population.

    “There is also this genuine argument that most policemen posted to states are strangers and that they hardly understand the languages spoken in their areas of assignment. Of course, there is a relationship between language, culture and safety,” he said.

    Oluwa also commended Vice President Yemi Osinbajo for standing firm in his argument for the creation of state police.

    Osinbajo recently spoke at the Lagos state House of Assembly emphasising on the need for the establishment of state police.

  • Group canvasses judiciary model for state police

    The police can be structured in the same manner as the judiciary, a civil society coalition, OneVoice, has said.

    It recommended the option of duplicating the police structure at the state level, which it said would mean that the Federal Government could retain overall control of the police, but with more state involvement.

    OneVoice noted that although state governors are empowered to appoint High Court judges and the Chief Judge, with the Houses of Assembly’s consent, they (judges) are paid by the Federal Government through the National Judicial Council (NJC).

    The group said governors could also be empowered to appoint commissioners of police with the approval of state lawmakers.

    This, the group said, would give governors more powers over the head of police in their states as chief security officers rather than depending on a central command structure where all orders come from Abuja.

    OneVoice said the arrangement would also mean that states would have their police service commissions as does the judiciary.

    Senior Programme Officer at the Human Rights Law Service (HURILAWS) Mr Collins Okeke, at a media parley by One Voice in Lagos, said rather than creating state police, the current policing structure could be reformed.

    “We can duplicate what is at the federal level at the states. The judiciary model can be adopted. There should be more state involvement in policing,” he said.

    Okeke was of the view that the office of the Inspector-General of Police should have security of tenure, while police funding should be on first line charge.

    To him, creating state police would amount to running away from the problem rather than finding a solution.

    “It appears we don’t like to solve problems in Nigeria. If something is faulty, we create new ones. Rather than interrogate a problem, we push it aside and create a new one,” he said.

    OneVoice Media Committee chair Pastor Deji Adeleye said the police was “castrated” through underfunding and inadequate recruitment of men.

    He said rather than creating state police, states could be empowered to recruit the number of policemen they want from their locality while serving officers should be made to return and serve in their states.

    “The present structure is faulty and we need to address the issues rather than calling for state police. After exploring all these reform options, state police can then be considered. It should not be the primary focus,” Adeleye said.

    NOPRIN Foundation co-ordinator Mr Okechukwu Nwanguma, said rather than outright rejection of the idea of state police, the government should consider it objectively, weighing the merits against the demerits against other options.

  • Obstacles to state police, by senator

    Senate Committee on Police Affairs Chairman Abu Ibrahim, yesterday listed issues that may hinder the smooth passage of the proposed state police bill pending before the National Assembly.

    The Katsina South senator said unless the issues are adequately addressed, it might be difficult to get the required number needed to pass the bill.

    Ibrahim said the obvious inability of most states to fund state police, a possible abuse by governors, and disagreement between some governors and federal lawmakers from their states, threaten the bill’s passage.

    He also highlighted the need to amend the allocation formula to give more funds to the states as a necessary step that should be taken before the creation of state police.

    The lawmaker noted that apart from Lagos, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Kano and possibly Kaduna states, other states were likely to find it difficult to fund state police.

    Proponents of the bill said safe guards to prevent abuse by governors were created by some provisions of the bill.

    Ibrahim said: “My fear is the required number. The disagreement between National Assembly members and governors may kill the bill because I know many senators and House of Representatives members think if state governors get state police, they can trample on them, arrest and detain them.

    “So this may kill this particular bill. From my assessment, there is no way that it will get the two-thirds in the National Assembly.

    “Probably the bulk of Southwest senators will go for it because there is some control and there is synergy because of the control system.

    “I do not want to mention names but there are states that there is no way, from the way I see it for nine states out of 37 will not vote for it. But let us see how it goes.

    “But I fear that it may not get the two-thirds in the National Assembly.

    “Well, basically, the problem with the Police is funding.

    “If you create state police, will you get better funding? What are the main reasons for failure, if it is regarded as a failure, of the Federal Police system? The reason is lack of funding.

    “You give Nigeria Police N20 billion as budgetary allocation when they require about N300 billion.

    “Even the N20 billion is not fully released; sometimes it is between 40 and 50 per cent release.

    “So, will state police do better? They may know the locality better but do they have the resources. Can the states pay them their salaries and allowances? So, these are things we should look into.

    “I thought what we should do is, take the bull by the horns and get the internal security system overhauled and properly funded.

    “Many states right now cannot even pay workers’ salaries. They have to be salvaged by the federal government to pay salaries and we want to add another weight on them.

    “What we could have done was to look at the federal structure. If you are removing some powers of the federal police and devolving them to the states, then you need to change the revenue allocation formula to give states more money.

    “But if we leave it the way it is, maybe Lagos, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Kano, Kaduna may pay. But after that, who else?”

    “This is a federal function. If I have to take a federal function to state, it is reasonable that I reduce the amount going to federal and give more to the states.

    “Also questions like, how many functions do you take from federal to states? We cannot just say, create state police with the present allocation formula. It will not work and that is besides the political angle I spoke about earlier, that is, the relationship between governors and lawmakers.”

    The first reading of the Constitution Alteration Bill for the Establishment of State Police and other related matters was taken at the Senate plenary two weeks ago.

    The Bill sponsored by the Deputy Senate President and the Chairman, Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, also has all members of the Committee as co-sponsors.

     

  • State police is ultimate solution to security challenges – Zwingina

    Former Deputy Senate Leader, Jonathan Zwingina, on Wednesday called for establishment of state police, saying it is the ultimate solution to the nation’s security challenges.

    Zwingina made the call when he visited the Paramount Ruler of Ganye Chiefdom in Adamawa, Alhaji Umar Sanda.

    According to him,  state police will not undermine the authority of the federal police but complement it.

    He said the police to citizens’ ratio was about one police man to 1,000 people, instead of the global standard of one to four.

    The former deputy senate leader also said half of the police personnel were attached to very important personalities, thus limiting efficient security coverage.

    He said some of the security challenges facing the country were due to neglect of traditional institutions.

    NAN