The host of Brekete Family, a Human Rights Radio and Television programme, Ahmed Isah, popularly known as the Ordinary President, has cautioned against the proposed establishment of state police, warning that the initiative could be abused by state governors and worsen ethnic divisions across the country.
Speaking during the Brekete Family programme, Isah expressed doubts about the effectiveness of state policing, arguing that governors could exploit the outfit to pursue personal and political interests rather than improve security.
He warned that the creation of state police could create fresh tensions, particularly in states with multiple ethnic groups.
Using Benue State as an example, Isah questioned how leadership positions within a state police structure would be distributed fairly among different ethnic groups.
“For example, if you have state police in Benue, which tribe among the Idoma and Tiv would the Commissioner of Police come from?” he asked.
He argued that if the head of a state police command came from one ethnic group, members of other groups might perceive the institution as biased and unfair.
The broadcaster also alleged that some state governors already exert undue influence over federal security agencies by demanding the redeployment of Commissioners of Police who refuse to align with their interests.
According to him, governors who allegedly interfere with the operations of the Nigeria Police Force under the current centralised system would wield even greater influence if state police were established.
“State governors decide whether a Commissioner of Police should stay in their state or not,” he said.
“Some even decide the army commander that should be sent to the state. What do you expect when they have state police?”
Isah’s comments come amid renewed debate over the proposed creation of state police, following ongoing constitutional amendment efforts by the National Assembly to decentralise Nigeria’s policing system as part of measures to tackle worsening insecurity across the country.
While supporters argue that state police would improve intelligence gathering, response times and community policing, opponents have continued to express concerns that the outfit could be politicised and used by state governments to intimidate political opponents and suppress dissent.Ty