President Bola Tinubu has assured Nigerians that the proposed state police system will be backed by safeguards to prevent abuse of power, saying his administration is determined to strengthen grassroots security without compromising citizens’ rights.
The President gave the assurance on Thursday, July 30, while receiving the Olubadan of Ibadanland and members of the Olubadan-in-Council at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
According to Tinubu, the Federal Government is addressing long-standing concerns over policing at the local level through the creation of state police, while putting mechanisms in place to ensure the new structure is not misused.
“We have equally embarked upon what was missing. Several decades of fears and uncertainty about what to do about security at the local level will be corrected.
“There will be state police. And as state police, we have a guardrail from abuses; we will protect it from abuses,” the President said.
Tinubu said traditional rulers would also have a greater role in the country’s security architecture, adding that the government was strengthening the capacity of forest guards to deny criminals safe havens.
“And you traditional rulers too, we have a role to play more. We are equally enhancing the capacity and capability of the forest guards.
“They are not just to chase antelopes and animals; we are going to have them chase the criminals and deal with them in various forests. It is very important to let you know that,” he said.
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The President also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to defeating terrorism without negotiating with criminal groups through ransom payments.
“And you will have seen, we will give them a geographical and numerical answer to the challenges. We refuse to pay ransom; we have the geography of the forest, we know what it is, and an answer to it,” Tinubu stated.
He explained that recent security incidents had prompted a continuous review of the country’s security strategy.
“As we emphasise the question of security, each event teaches us new methods, opens our eyes, challenges us to examine and re-examine our architecture, our strategy, our map and operations,” he said.
Tinubu disclosed that the Nigerian Army is being expanded from eight divisions to 12 to improve response time and strengthen counter-terrorism operations across the country.
“You’ve seen that from eight divisions now, we are now moving to 12 divisions, to shorten the response time, to give that response time the teeth that is needed for us to defeat terrorism. It is very necessary and we are doing so,” he said.
The President also commended members of the Armed Forces for their role in the successful rescue operation recently carried out in Oyo State.
“Congratulations on the Oyo State’s rescue that succeeded. I think we succeeded with your support and prayers, I agree with you that we should commend the men and women of the armed forces for their excellent performance.
“On behalf of them, I accept your message, and I will forward the same thing, the same message on,” Tinubu said.