Some senior lawyers in the country are divided over the creation of state police, saying having state police in the country has its pros and cons.
To some of them, it would be abused by state governors and highly placed politicians, who would see it as a tool to oppress the oppossition and intimidate anyone against their policies and directives.
But to others, the country is ripe for it, given the level of insecurity around us.
They argued that the country’s security has deteriorated to the extent that no one is safe, even VIPs.
They are argued that if the law needs to be amended for the creation of state police, it should be done fast to secure lives and property of Nigerians.
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr Abdul Balogun, said whole idea of creating state police should not be discarded.
To him, even, the Nigeria Police as presently constituted is being used to harass and intimidate political opponents by those in authority.
He said, “It is often argued that if state police is allowed, state governors would use them against their political opponents, to me, this argument does not hold water.
“A former Nigerian president said state police could be used by state governors in persecuting perceived political opponents, but it is also true that the federal government is using the Nigeria Police Force to persecute perceived political opponents, undermining the NASS and obstructing free speech.
“It does not mean that the whole idea should be discarded. The fact that there were instances where the federal government had used the police force against its perceived political opponents does not entirely discredit the idea of having state police.
“Going by the 1999 Constitution, state governors are known as the chief security officers of their states but in actual practice, they have no control over the security apparatus in their states. Commissioners of police are appointed in Abuja by the Inspector- General of Police and are mainly answerable to the one that appoints them.”
Barrister Marcus U. Eji said Nigeria has the capacity to maintain state and federal police.
He said both combined would strengthen the security of the country and the policing.
He said Nigerians were looking forward to any form of arrangement that would guarantee their security.
He said, “The security situation in the country now demands urgent attention. Whatever will guarantee the security of lives and property of Nigerians is welcome at this point.
“Now, the security situation has worsened as all that we now hear in the media are killings and kidnappings, banditry. This is unfortunate!”
Constitutional lawyer, Habeeb, Jimoh, described the situation as unacceptable, adding that no day goes without one innocent Nigerian being kidnapped or killed.
