By Jethro Ibileke
The Senator representing Edo South Senatorial District and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions at the National Assembly, Senator Neda Imasuen, has called for the establishment of state policing as solution to the increasing insecurity in Nigeria.
He made the advocacy while speaking to journalists during an empowerment programme he organised in Benin City, the State capital.
The Senator lamented the growing threat posed by armed groups, particularly in the southern part of the country, where the invasion of individuals from other regions has raised alarms about their true intentions.
He questioned whether these individuals were indeed Nigerians, suggesting that not all may be citizens, which has exacerbated fears and tensions in local communities.
“These people say they are hunters, but can there be more hunters than the southerners? I don’t think so.
“For you to leave your region and come deep into the southern forests and claim to be hunting is highly questionable.
“What do they do with the game they hunt? I don’t see a market where they sell their exploits. It’s confusing to me,” he said.
While drawing attention to the inadequacy of the current policing structure, Senator Imasuen adcocate policing at the state level, to address these issues more effectively.
He argued that, with the vast size of Nigeria and the limitations of the national police force, state and even local governments should have their own police forces to ensure the safety of their communities.
He said: “Other countries have local governments with their own police forces. We’ve seen in the western part of Nigeria with the Amotekun Security Network, where trained vigilantes are working effectively to protect their communities.
“State police would help us safe our homes, streets, and forests. As it stands, the Nigerian Police Force is overstretched and cannot cover every nook and cranny of the country.”
While acknowledging that state policing comes with both advantages and challenges, the Senator however insisted that the benefits far outweigh the risks.
