Governors Wike, Ishaku reiterate State Police as solution to Nigeria’s insecurity

The Rivers state governor and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirant, Nyesom Wike and the Taraba state governor, Darius Ishaku, said the establishment of a State Police would be one enduring approach to addressing the festering insecurity in Nigeria.

While wooing delegates of PDP in Taraba State when he met with them in Jalingo on Thursday, Governor Wike dismissed the argument against the need for State police.

“The federal government alone cannot stop this insecurity in the country, so having state police does not mean you will not have federal police. All over the federal system, even councils have their policy, so you employ people who know the environment.

“You cannot take a stranger to Mabila; it will take him years to understand that place. You can’t take a stranger and go to Donga or Chanchangi. So, you need people who know the environment to take care of the place.

“If federal offences are committed, the federal police should handle them. If they are state offences, the state police should handle. So one key thing to stop this insecurity in Nigeria is to have state police.”

The Rivers State governor said those opposing state police often argue that State governors will use it against their opponents if allowed.

“The question is will the governors be in office permanently? So, that argument is neither here nor there.

”If the APC government loves and is committed to Nigeria, one project that they should have made for Nigeria is the creation of State police.”

Governor Wike explained that the beauty of establishing a State police is to ensure that people who are indigenous to an area are engaged in policing their environment.

In the same vein, Governor Ishaku, who lamented the state of insecurity in Nigeria, expressed optimism that if the PDP returns to power in 2023, the party will restore the nation’s security by creating a state policing system.

E/Suzan O.