State Police is panacea to insecurity, Goodluck Jonathan insists

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has said that state police must come into force for Nigeria to enjoy better security.

Speaking on Monday in Abuja at a one-day dialogue on state police organised by the House of Representatives, the former Nigerian leader said the debate should be on the operations of state police, not on the necessity.

Recalling the 2014 national conference organised during his tenure, Jonathan said all delegates supported state policing alongside other proposed security measures.

He said the operations of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must be reviewed while the use of police in elections must be minimal.

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Jonathan said the laws for creation of state police must be strong to eliminate the lacuna that politicians may exploit to abuse it.

Vice President Kashim Shettima and elder statesman Abdulsalami Abubakar were among dignitaries who attended the event.

Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, at the dialogue said that the country is not ripe for state police.

The police chief represented by AIG Ben Okolo cited abuse by those who want to score political points. He argued that some governors may likely use state police against perceived opponents, leading to rights abuses.