Bode George calls on state police to combat insecurity

Former National Deputy Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) South-West, Bode George, on Monday, stressed the urgency of establishing a state police force to effectively address the widespread insecurity in Nigeria.

George, in an interview on Politics Today on Channels Television, stressed that the introduction of a state police would significantly reduce the rising insurgency, citing the recommendations of a constitutional conference committee under former President Goodluck Jonathan.

George highlighted the challenges in fighting insurgencies, noting that unlike conventional warfare, the enemy is often unknown and can blend into the population.

He argued that local police who understand their communities and cultural dynamics would be better equipped to manage security issues and prevent criminal activity.

He said, “The constitutional conference committee under former president Jonathan stated that the need to have a state police cannot be futuristic, but is urgent,” George said.

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“You know, when you’re at war, you have a clear enemy, but in this case, it’s an insurgency, an insecurity within. You don’t know who’s who, they can show up during the day and pretend to be part of one area but at night they turn into something else.

“So what you need is people in their community to police them. They know themselves, they know what’s allowed and what’s not allowed in that culture, and they know the rules of society in that culture.

“So, they would be better off if they could manage any problems in their community. For God’s sake, we need state police.”

George’s call for state police echoes a long-running debate in Nigeria’s security landscape. His emphasis on the need for community-based policing chimes with concerns about the federal police’s limitations in dealing with local security threats.

As the country grapples with rising insecurity, George’s advocacy for a state police adds momentum to ongoing talks on reforming Nigeria’s security architecture.

Bode George calls on state police to fight insecurity first appeared on Latest Nigeria News | Headlines from Ripples Nigeria.