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| Bode George |
Bode George, a former Deputy National Chairman (South-West) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has emphasized the urgent need for state police in Nigeria to address the country's insecurity issues.
In an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, George stated that the implementation of state police would help reduce the surge in insurgency.
He said, “The constitutional conference committee under former President Jonathan highlighted that the need for state police is not a future consideration; it is an urgent necessity.
“When you go to war, you have a defined enemy, but in this case, it is an insurgency, internal insecurity. You don’t know who is who; they can blend in during the day and turn into something else at night.
“What we need are people within their communities to police them. They know each other, understand the cultural norms, and are familiar with the local rules.
“They would be better equipped to manage any issues within their communities. For God’s sake, we need state police.”
Over the years, insecurity has worsened in the country, with political and religious leaders advocating for state police.
Recall that President Bola Tinubu and the governors of the 36 states agreed in mid-February on the need for state police to address the escalating security challenges in Nigeria.
A month later, 16 governors submitted their reports to the National Economic Council (NEC), expressing support for the creation of state police and the amendment of the 1999 Constitution to allow for it.
The decisions of the remaining 20 governors are still awaited.
