Ogun seeks creation of state police to tackle crimes
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By Igbagboyemi OLADELE (Abeokuta)
NIGERIA: AS lawmakers in the national and state assemblies are in the process of reviewing the nation’s constitution, the Ogun State government has called for the creation of state police in order to fight insecurity in the country.
The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Jide Ojuko, stated this in Lisa in Ifo Local Government area of the state while commissioning an office complex built by the Baale of the town, Chief Nojeem Oladele Odugbemi, for the Vigilante Service of Ogun State.
Ojuko explained that the lawmakers will do Nigerians great good if they positively consider creating state police, the idea which different state governments, groups and individuals have been clamouring for with the belief that it would address the problems of high-profile killings, kidnappings and crimes in general.
The Commissioner further stressed that state police would help in creating jobs and instil sense of security among the populace as it would enable indigenes of any community “to identify who is who.”
He said: “I call on national assembly and our lawmakers in the state houses of assembly to support the creation of state police for a very simple reason that it will check the incessant cases of abuse by policemen and the high and mighty in society.”
“Before, we had local, state police in the Eastern Region, the old Bendel State, part of which is now Edo State, the Western Region and even the Northern Region and they did wonderful jobs,” Ojuko maintained.
“I believe that every state should own a police and also have a Commissioner of Police, and we shall also have the federal police that will have an Inspector-General who will take care of standards,” he further explained.
“All the forces must have the same standard and uniform all over the states, but with the highest person in the state being a Commissioner of Police,” Ojuko said, adding: “The federal police should handle federal cases or matters which are above the state power.”
He also added: “It will reduce robbery and harassment by criminals on the roads during gridlocks.”
The Commissioner further said that the state vigilante service organisation is being repositioned to fit into modern day community policing initiative with collaboration with Nigeria Police Force, thereby reducing crime rate in the state.
Earlier, Odugbemi said he decided to build the edifice in order to compliment government efforts in bringing development to the grassroots.
“What we are doing in Lisa is to compliment the efforts of government in the area of security, which is key to the development of any given environment, it is the duty of each community to make sure that there is adequate security in their community, this is the only way economic activities can thrive,” he said.
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