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L-R:
Zamfara State Governor and Chairman of NGF, Mallam Abdulaziz Yari and Governor
Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State
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• Stop using our name for illegalities, DSS warns
operatives
The Nigeria Governors’
Forum (NGF) has resolved to constitute a six-man committee to consider the
vexed issue of state police in the country in a veiled backing for
restructuring.
The
Guardian Nigeria report continues:
The
committee which has membership drawn from representatives of the six
geo-political zones of the country was specifically tasked to come up with the
best way of policing the country in view of the prevailing security challenges besetting
the nation.
This
was sequel to their meeting with the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim
Idris, at the Old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja ahead of the
National Economic Council (NEC) yesterday.
Briefing
State House Correspondents after the meeting which ended midnight on Wednesday,
the Chairman of the forum and Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari, who was
joined by the Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, said the IGP made a
presentation at the meeting during which he canvassed the establishment of
media channels including radio and television for the police force.
“There
is the issue of state police which is being discussed and we are coming up with
so many options,” Yari said.The police boss said the meeting essentially was
“to address some of the challenges in the police unit,” adding “we had a
fruitful discussion with them and obviously all of them are concerned about
security in virtually all parts of the country. They are ready to support the
Police Force to see how we can address some of the challenges.”
Meanwhile,
security chiefs, including the Inspector General of Police Idris, former IGP,
Solomon Arase and other stakeholders on security will on July 26, meet in
Osogbo, the Osun State capital to proffer solutions to the menace of kidnapping
and terrorism in the country.
The
conference is being organized by the Police Community Relations Committee
(PCRC) and would draw security experts from across the country to tackle the
menace of insecurity and terrorism.
The
organization has pulled its weight behind the introduction of state police,
describing it as the only measure to prevent crime at the grassroots.At a press
conference to herald the national security conference in Osogbo yesterday, the
chairman of the conference planning committee, Mr. John Okedoye, said the
conference became imperative because of the worrisome state of insecurity in
the country.
He
said the conference will draw participants from the 36 states of the country
including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.Security experts expected
to deliver papers at the conference include the Inspector General of Police,
former IGP Arase, Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs,
Senator Babafemi Ojudu and an educationist, Dr. Oyebade Olowogboyega.
At
another forum yesterday, the IGP said the use of pre-registered subscriber
identification module (SIM) cards is a severe threat to security and
governance. At a one-day sensitization workshop for law enforcement agencies in
the northeast zone on telecommunications issues organized by the Nigerian
Communications Commission (NCC) in Gombe yesterday, he said: “These criminal
activities, including the use of preregistered SIM cards, should be of concern
to all us. We must re-strategize on our noble programme of community policing
across communities and give our communities greater stake in securing national
assets.”
Besides,
the Department of State Services (DSS) has warned security and anti-corruption
agencies allegedly using the name of the service to carry out illegal
operations in parts of the country to stop.
The
DSS was reacting to the recent search which the service was accused of
carrying out at the Kaduna residence of the former Vice President, Namadi Sambo
and another raid executed at No.165, Ademola Adetokunbo, Wuse II, Abuja,
belonging to Sahara Energy Company.
A
statement by the spokesman, Tony Opuiyo, yesterday in Abuja said these
impersonators in some instances, try to copy the service’s operational
tactics by using its symbols and paraphernalia especially operational dress
codes. Opuiyo said the aim according to information available to the
service, was to accord semblance of legitimacy to their operations and as well
leave impressions that the DSS was, in fact, involved.
The
statement reads: “The Department of State Services (DSS) has noted, with dismay
and total condemnation, the activities of impostors including some security
agencies who have continually engaged in illegal security operations, allegedly
in the name of the service, in parts of the country.
“Consequently,
the public is hereby alerted to be wary of these ugly trends and also informed
that not all operatives in black uniforms are personnel of the DSS. “The
service is indeed not sparing any effort to ensure that this is brought to a
complete stop. In line with its standard operational procedures, the service
will, in the spirit of public accountability, always inform stakeholders of its
activities on the basis of need-to-know principle,” the statement
added. He therefore, urged persons and groups, with useful information
about suspected illegal operations in any part of the country to provide it to
the service for prompt action.
Relatedly,
the Global Peace Foundation of Nigeria yesterday warned against reprisal
attacks in southern Kaduna, saying they would further inflame the crises.The
Country President of the foundation, Mr. John Oko, gave the warning in Kajuru
when he intervened in the dispute between Fulani and the Kadara communities.
According
to him, dialogue remains the key to ending any conflict, adding: “The killings
must stop while all communities must embrace talks to solve the problem.” He
urged the two communities in Kajuru Local Council Area not to engage in
reprisals following the recent clashes between them. Oko said it was
unfortunate that the fight took place at a time when the various communities
were living peacefully.
He
cautioned that revenge would lead to the death of more innocent persons, as
well as agony and dislocation. “It is unfortunate that people who were living
peacefully with one another have now turned against themselves,’’ he said.
Also,
two northern coordinators of the foundation, John Hayab and Halliru Maraya,
have cautioned the communities to stop taking the law in their hands and allow
the relevant authorities to deal with the situation.
The
Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the area, Rev. Amos
Andrew also expressed sadness over the outbreak of violence. “What happened was
a great surprise, we will not allow our youths to take laws into their hands.
We, as religious leaders have related very well and made peace by ourselves,”
he said.
The local Chairman of Jama’atu Nasril Islam, Dahiru Abubakar, added that those involved in the killings must be brought to book to serve as examples to others. The police had on Wednesday assured that the situation had been brought under control, after the clashes in which 34 people died.
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Inspector-General
of Police, Ibrahim Idris
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Nigeria Not Ripe
For State Police — I-G
The
Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, says Nigeria does not yet have the
political maturity for state police.
Instead,
the country should improve funding for the agency under the current
arrangement, Mr. Idris stated this on Thursday in Abuja at a meeting with the
Nigeria Governors Forum.
The
I-G said he was not unaware of the agitations by some groups for the creation
of state police, but argued that the federal police arrangement still remains
the best.
“I
sincerely believe that the Federal Police is still the best for the country and
with improved funding the challenges of crime will be addressed.
“Those
agitating for state police should consider the level of our political
maturity,” he said, according to a statement by police spokesman, Jimoh
Moshood.
He
held the meeting to seek the support of the Forum for the passage of the
Nigeria Police Trust Fund bill now before the National Assembly.
He
said if the bill was passed, the police would have enough fund to effectively
police the nation.
“Let
me use this opportunity to appeal to your Excellencies to prevail on your
representatives at the National Assembly to ensure the passage of the bill.
“It is my sincere believe that once the Police
Trust Fund Bill is passed into law, the necessary finances required to
effectively police the nation will be available,“ he said.
He
said this would also reduce the pressure on the state governments in the funding
of the Police.
Mr.
Idris noted that the Nigeria Police were one of the “least paid” security
organisations in the world in spite of operating under the UN ratio of 1:400.
He
added that with the current ratio of 1: 602 the Nigeria Police was operating far
below the United Nation’s ratio.
“About
10,000 police officers have been recruited recently to fill the gap but this is
still a far cry.
“To
meet up with the UN ratio of 1:400, the Nigeria police requires additional
155,000 Police Officers for the next five years,“he said.
He
said a request to recruit 31,000 policemen had been sent to President Muhammadu
Buhari for approval.
Mr.
Idris said the current Police Management was making efforts to establish
structures that would bridge the communication gap between the Police and
members of the public.
Mr.
Idris said one of such structures included the establishment of the Nigeria
Police Broadcasting Service (NPBS).
“When
commissioned, it will broadcast Nationwide on TV, Radio, online and the
National Emergency Communication Command Control Centre (NEC4).
The
Chairman of the Forum, Governor Abdul’Aziz Yari of Zamfara, who assured the
police boss the support of the forum, said security was everybody’s business.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a
public hearing on the Nigeria Police Trust Fund was organised by the House of
Representatives Committee on Police Affairs on July 1.
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