The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has warned that the continued delay in establishing state police in Nigeria risks plunging the country into intractable ethnic wars. In a statement on Thursday, the group expressed concern that the spate of insecurity across various regions could push citizens to resort to self-defence.
Afenifere Faults IGP's 60-Month Timeline
Afenifere criticised the Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu, for proposing a 60-month gestation period for state police, describing it as unacceptable. The group argued that the federal government's fire-brigade approach to security deployment has left vast ungoverned spaces vulnerable to terrorist infiltration and cross-border criminal networks.
Nigeria a Target of International Terrorism
According to the statement signed by its secretary general, Sola Ebiseni, Nigeria has become a deliberate target of international terrorism for an undisguised territorial agenda. The group advised that insecurity should be treated as a national concern, similar to the collective effort against COVID-19, and not exploited for political gain.
The statement highlighted that the British colonial administration initially signed treaties with independent kings, and Nigeria's adoption of federalism in 1954 was not novel. However, military rule altered federal arrangements, introducing a centralised police structure ultimately responsible to the president through the IGP. This has rendered state governments unable to discharge their basic duties of protecting life and property or enforcing laws passed by their parliaments.
Call for Immediate Action
Afenifere emphasised that the current fire-brigade deployment of federal security forces is ineffective in protecting citizens, especially farmers in ungoverned spaces, and strips the military of its invincibility. The group noted that the IGP initially supported state police and submitted a memorandum to the National Assembly for constitutional alteration. Similarly, the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, expressed commitment to state police, and the House of Representatives began debates on the matter.
The group stated that there is a consensus in Nigeria that the time for state police is now. Contrary to the IGP's memo, state police cannot wait for a 60-month gestation period; its structure and recruitment should not be determined by the federal police or composed of 60% federal officers from the state. The firepower of state police should be no less than that of the federal police or the terrorists they are to tackle.
Amotekun as a Model
In Yoruba land, the Amotekun Regional Security Network only requires immediate upgrading to state police with appropriate firepower and continuous training. Afenifere warned that the unnecessary vacuum created by the delay in establishing state police may soon be filled by intractable ethnic wars, as natural instincts for self and kindred protection take over if urgent action is not taken.
The group advised political actors to treat insecurity as a national concern, similar to the fight against COVID-19, and not as a tool for political gain. While commending the military and other armed forces for their patriotic efforts against insurgency and terrorism, Afenifere admonished them to shun any temptation or encouragement for intervention in civil and democratic governance.
