CP Olayinka Balogun rtd/
I am always worried whenever l read some rigid opinions on the well-beaten issue of State Police. With due respect, I can say that like many other likeminds, I have studied, discussed and practiced Community Policing (the euphemistic and deceptive name for State Police, but devoid of the operational characteristics, hence its inability to yield any result.
The opponents of the State Police are actually not on the same page with the proponents. While they continued to pontificate on the “Leviathan Power” of one individual, ie the State Governor, and how he would “use” it against his opponents, how he would “pocket” all of us etc. We are talking of a State Police that will function as follows:
a) Provide a 24-hour security for millions of our innocent hard working citizens in the towns communities and remote rural areas.
b) Provide adequate security on our various highways and inter /intra state roads
c) Provide massive employment to teaming youth through employment into the various State Police Formations.
d) Prevent and not allow heinous crimes to be committed before rushing “a la Fire Brigade to the scene ..with belated siren- blowing patrol cars..after the incident…
e) Already “full ground” everywhere and prevent Boko Haram, unruly herdsmen and sudry other criminal elements/miscreants from entering not to talk of taking over some states as it is today.
f) Serve as commercial avenue and economic development/incentives in the area of building new barracks, purchasing general accoutremets, and massive training opportunities
g) …”exhume” retired, seasoned security personnel currently wasting away all over the country to come and put their invaluable, rich experience at the disposal of such fresh recruits etc. A safe environment emanating from sustainable internal security and growth in commercial and economic activities are mutually co related.
A sine qua non. Nobody comes to an unsafe market. The good things surrounding State Police are so enormous, exciting and generally rewarding that the “fear” of what a single person, ie a Governor can do with the outfit is so puerile and pedestrian to contemplate. Have we all become “mumus” that cannot counter whatever excesses the man will bring along?
Just two days ago the Supreme Court ruled that Governors cannot dissolve an elected Local Government Cabinet! That’s what is expected of an enlightened society, not to throw away a laudable community- oriented programme like State Police because of the envisaged impediments from the singular office of a “temporary” Governor. Where is our legendary collective will and practice to fight injustice? I have often wondered why we cannot “decide to trek” from Lagos to Kano or Enugu because of occasional Air disasters and hazards. Whatever happens to all the preventive and innovative measures?
State Police is the solution to our Security problems. Internal Security is the business of internal, local home-based security outfits like state police. Amotekun, Ebube Agu etc are just inching towards it. But what about the necessary gadgets and equipment?
If the fear or hypocrisy of what the so called over-rated Governor or politician is the factor then let ‘s go the whole hog, i.e. let’s withdraw arms from all our policemen since they also fire occasional accidental missiles! Let’s do the correct thing and thereafter apply all preventive measures and sanctions. No alternative really.
Check all over the world. Why do we want to be unduly different?
CP Olayinka Balogun Rtd psc, fsi. FBINAA, BL.Ph.D
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