Time to embrace state police is now – retired AIG

A retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Ambrose Aisabor, says it is time for Nigeria to embrace state police to mitigate the security situation in the country.

Aisabor told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Benin that the failure of the centralised police system to nip insecurity in the last 15 years necessitated the need for decentralised policing.

“It is time to embrace state police; the debate whether or not Nigeria should go for state police has been raging with many Nigerians urging the government to embrace it.

“The question now is why are many people clamouring for state police? It is principally due to the failure of the federal police.

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“Due to the new dynamics in security, the centre can no longer hold (water). The security situation in the country is getting worse on a daily basis.

“When is Nigeria going to be ripe for state police? The main argument is that state governors will misuse the outfit but police are susceptible to misuse at every level of government.

“So many civilised countries are practising multilevel policing. There are always safeguards for checks and balances.

“When you look at what we are having now, most of the police requirements are already being borne by the various state governments.

“Apart from salaries and allowances which the federal government is responsible for, other logistics needs of the police are being handled by governors,” he said.

The retired police chief explained that even the community policing that was being set up could only thrive well under the states.

“You cannot decree community policing from Abuja; the states are closer to the people than Abuja,” Aisabor said.

He noted that many countries practising multilevel policing were enjoying the system.

According to him, these countries do not have policing at the state level alone, they also have it at the local, educational and big companies’ level.

He stated that the chance of any Inspector-Inspector of Police (IGP) supporting the idea was slim for the obvious reason of loss of power and control. (NAN)