A former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Deputy National Chairman, South-West, Bode George, on Monday, stressed the urgency of establishing state police forces to effectively tackle the pervasive insecurity in Nigeria.
George, in an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, emphasized that the introduction of state police would significantly reduce the rising insurgency, citing the recommendations of the constitutional conference committee under former President Goodluck Jonathan.
George highlighted the challenges of combating insurgency, noting that unlike conventional warfare, the enemy is often unknown and can blend in with the community.
He argued that local police forces, familiar with the community and its cultural dynamics, would be better equipped to manage security issues and prevent criminal activities.
He said, “The constitutional conference committee under former president Jonathan stated that the need to have state police cannot be futuristic, it is so urgent,” George said.
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“You know, when you go to war, you have a defined enemy, but in this case, it is an insurgency, insecurity within. You don’t know who is who, they can come out in the day and pretend to be part of one area but in the night they turn out to be something else.
“So, what you need will be people within their community to police them. They know themselves, they know the do’s and don’ts of that culture, and they know the rules of the people in that culture.
“So, they would be better off to be able to manage any issues within their communities. For God’s sake, we need the state police.”
George’s call for state police echoes a long-standing debate in Nigeria’s security landscape. His emphasis on the need for community-based policing resonates with concerns about the federal police’s limitations in addressing localized security threats.
As the country grapples with escalating insecurity, George’s advocacy for state police adds momentum to the ongoing conversation on reforming Nigeria’s security architecture.