State Police: To Be Or Not To Be?

The debate on the establishment of State police is now in
the public domain. Opinion, however, varies on its desirability or otherwise.

Even, the State governors themselves are divided on the
issue. The Governors Forum – an association of all governors in the country,
who advocated the formation of State police, argued that its establishment
would help stem violent crimes and criminality, currently being experienced in
some parts of the country.

However, governors of the northern States, who kicked
against the creation of State police, argued that the country was not ripe for
regional police formations.

Former Inspectors-General of Police also voiced strong
opposition against the State police. They contended that the establishment of
State police was an invitation to anarchy.

The former police chiefs, led by Alhaji Gambo Jimeta, made
their position known when they paid a courtesy call on President Goodluck
Jonathan to proffer solutions on the current security challenges facing the
country.

Mr Tunde Odey, a political commentator, nonetheless,
stressed that the formation of State police was desirable as it would
strengthen the country’s federalism.

“We need to face the reality; if we say we are practising
federalism, there are no half measures in doing so.

“State police will complement the Nigeria Police in efforts
to put in place effective policing of the country.

“Nigeria is the most under-policed country in the world,
with less than one policeman to over 60,000 people; this is a far cry from the
UN recommendation of one policeman to 4,000 people,’’ he said.

Besides, Odey noted that State governments had been spending
a lot of resources on security and funding the police in their respective
States.

He recalled that Lagos State Government spent over N9
billion in 2011 to equip security agencies, including the police, in the State.

“Critics should know that the greatest challenge facing the
police is inadequate funding, which the creation of State police will somewhat
address,’’ he said.

Some prominent Nigerians have also spoken in support of the
establishment of State police.

Senate President David Mark, who lent his weight to the
establishment of State police, said that he was now better informed about the
wisdom in setting up State police.

Mark, who spoke at a recent public function in Abuja,
advised those kicking against the establishment of State police to think twice
about the issue, adding that people always tended to resist change.

A former Head of State, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, who is also
in support of State police, said that its establishment would help curb violent
and urban crimes across the States of the federation. He advised the Federal
Government to support the establishment of state police.

Advocates of State police are, however, quick to point to
the fact that State police are not entirely a new phenomenon in the country.

Mr Chuks Ifeanyi, a retired civil servant, recalled that
after Nigeria’s independence in 1960, there existed a resemblance of State
police, then called Constabulary (local government police) and maintained by
the various regions.

“The Constabulary dealt with local crimes in the
neighbourhoods; it was only when the crime was of a high magnitude that the
federal police would be invited,’’ he said.

Sharing similar sentiments, Mr John Uyigue, an Abuja-based
lawyer, stressed that the establishment of State police was long overdue more
so that the country’s democracy had stabilised considerably.

He allayed fears that the State governors would wield undue
influence on State police and probably use them to intimidate or oppress their
perceived opponents.

“State police does not mean that they would operate without
any supervision or that they would be law unto themselves. “In other developing
democracies the world over, State police always complement the federal police,
just like you have in India and the United States. There are federal laws and
there are state laws,’’ he said.

Uyigwe, nonetheless, observed that a resemblance of State
police already existed across the country, as most of the States had created
special security squads from the police to respond to specific crisis
situations.

“We have ‘Rapid Respond Squad’ in Lagos State; we have
‘Operation Zuma’ in Niger and we have ‘Operation Yakin (war)’in Kaduna State.
“Besides, we have ‘Operation Desert Storm’ in Yobe,’’ he added.

Uyigwe recommended that instead of opposing the creation of
State police outright, the citizens should brainstorm on the modalities of
setting up State police, as it was somewhat a necessity.

“The society is growing; urbanisation has its own challenges
and it comes with all kinds of challenges,’’ he said.

Uyigwe, however, said that for now, efforts should be
concentrated on implementing proposed strategies to restructure the police for
better service delivery.

“Encourage educated people to enlist in the police force,
while a graduate scheme with a special salary structure should be created.

“What the police lacked was proper funding and logistics,
those of us in support of State police believe that with State police, such
problem can be effectively addressed,’’ he said.

Uyigwe, who noted that people habitually resisted change,
nonetheless, said that on the long run, State police would bring the desired
change in effective policing of the country.

“The police high command should continue with the
restructuring of the police; it should, however, encourage the sharing of
controlling power with the States to maximise efficiency. I know the change
will be drastic, but at the end, the country would be better for it.

“We must remember that Nigeria remains the least policed
country in the world; but with the onset of violent crimes, urban guerrillas,
kidnapping and bombings across the country, there is the need to take a second
look at State police.

“If the truth must be told, State police are quite desirable
at this moment to stem the tide of violent crimes and urban terrorism currently
ravaging the country,’’ he said.

As the debate goes on, concerned observers express the hope
that at the end of the day, Nigerians will be more equipped to determine the
kind of police which the country needs.

Enehikhere is of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Julius Enehikhere