Ex-Police Commissioner Backs Calls For State Police

The single sharpest fact in one or two punchy sentences. Who did what, where, when, and why it matters. Not a summary of everything — the one thing that makes someone stop scrolling. A reader who only reads this paragraph must understand what happened.

Former Commissioner of Police in Anambra, Aderemi Adeoye, has backed the establishment of state police in Nigeria. He made this known during an interview on Channels Television's Sunrise Daily, where he also dismissed fears over the establishment of state police.

Adeoye described the move as a 'welcome development', saying it would bring policing closer to the people and make law enforcement an agent of problem-solving. He emphasized that in developed countries, they have federal, state, and local government police forces.

The establishment of state police is part of efforts to reform Nigeria's security architecture. President Bola Tinubu had on Tuesday transmitted a constitutional alteration bill to the Senate seeking to establish state police. The bill will provide a legal framework for a dual policing structure in the country, allowing states to establish and operate their own police services alongside the federal police.

Adeoye dismissed fears of abuse, saying that the National Assembly should put guardrails in place to forestall it. He noted that while there were fears of the government in power using the forces to oppress opponents, these fears were not entirely baseless. However, he emphasized that significant development has happened in the country since its nascent days.

The retired police officer noted that the federal police will handle federal crimes, while the state police will take care of security at the state level. He commended President Tinubu for his courage, vision, and focus in getting the ball rolling on the establishment of state police.

The move to establish state police has been met with mixed reactions from various stakeholders. While some have praised the initiative, others have expressed fear of a repetition of past experiences where state police were used to oppress political opponents.

Adeoye's remarks have added to the debate on the establishment of state police in Nigeria. As the country continues to grapple with insecurity, the establishment of state police has been seen as a critical step towards addressing the challenges.