As part of their efforts to improve the country’s security, Nigeria’s police chief, Tunji Disu, today set up a committee on state police.
Disu told the seven-member group to be professional during their first meeting with senior police officers at the Peacekeeping Conference Centre, Force Headquarters, Abuja. He stressed how important state police are to the country’s safety, according to Channels TV.
The IGP told the committee that their job is “both important and timely,” and that it will help establish the “framework through which state policing may operate in Nigeria.”
The Lagos-born IGP stated, “As you work on this task, you must be professional, objective, and fully aware of the unique challenges of policing a nation as diverse as ours.”
The committee is supposed to do a number of things, such as look at current policing models in and outside of Nigeria, figure out what communities need in terms of security and what new risks are popping up across the country, suggest a way for State Police structures to be set up and coordinated, and deal with issues related to hiring, training, standards, and resource allocation.
It will also set up strong systems of accountability and monitoring to make sure that people are professional and that the public trusts them.
Disu, a former commander of the Lagos State Rapid Response Squad (RRS), remarked during the occasion, “If State Policing is well thought out and put into action, it could bring a lot of good things to our country.”
“State police departments can help communities understand security issues better and respond more quickly and effectively to new threats by bringing law enforcement closer to them.”
Olu Ogunsakin is the chairman of the committee, and Bode Ojajuni is the secretary.
Emmanuel Ojukwu, Okebechi Agora, Suleyman Gulma, Ikechukwu Okafor, and Tolulope Ipinmisho are also there.
The new IGP, who was named and confirmed as Nigeria’s police commander just a few days ago, has a lot of work to do, including starting the committee.
There are more security problems in the country right now, and some people think that state policing is one method to solve them.
President Bola Tinubu has already told the National Assembly to start making changes to Nigeria’s legislation so that state police can be formed.
Below is the entire list of those who are on the state police committee:
Prof. Olu Ogunsakin is the Chairman and Director-General of the National Institute for Police Studies (NIPS) in Abuja.
CP Bode Ojajuni is the Secretary Commissioner of Police.
CP Emmanuel Ojukwu (Rtd) is a member of the Police Public Relations School’s board of directors.
DCP Okebechi Agora is a member of the Deputy Commissioner of Police.
DCP Suleyman Gulma is a member of the Deputy Commissioner of Police.
Assistant Commissioner of Police ACP Ikechukwu Okafor Member
CSP Tolulope Ipinmisho is the Chief Superintendent of Police.
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