Obasanjo’s Call For State Policing Is Reasonable – HURIWA

Civil rights advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, has come out to support the call by ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo for state police to tackle the worsening security situation in Nigeria.

The group recently revealed this via a press statement, and Nigerians have been reacting.

According to him, the many terrorist attacks in Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara, and the entire North-East with the most recent one by the Islamic State of West Africa Province in the Ardo Kola Local Government Area of Taraba State cannot be allowed to continue while we stare and do nothing.

HURIWA added that the rising spate of kidnapping, terrorism, banditry, bank robbery, ritual killings, rape cases, herdsmen attacks, amongst other vicious crimes has to be tackled head on with state policing.

It read, “The general state of insecurity all over Nigeria and especially the crime of kidnapping and terrorism have become widespread because Nigeria is living a lie by claiming to practice federalism while the federating units do not legally have powers to control the security institutions.”

“Although there is some leeway that may be explored in the constitution for the states to create security vigilante, these crimes of kidnappings for ritual purposes and for ransom payments need to be stamped out. Also, terrorism must be stamped out. It is long overdue.”

“Former President Olusegun Obasanjo was right that state police is the way forward as the existing security apparatus of the country has failed just as President Muhammadu Buhari has woefully failed in his constitutional role of protection of lives and properties.”

“There has to be a police reform. Nigeria must recalibrate and restructure urgently so the states have express powers over the security of their domains.”

“The executive and the legislature must join hands together and impose stiff penalty…on convicted kidnappers and terrorists. The judiciary should also join this effort through the speedy dispensation of justice within weeks.”

“There must be stringent measures against terrorists and kidnappers to serve as a deterrent.”