Insecurity In S’East: PSC ex chairman harps on state policing
As a way of ending the increasing insecurity in the South East states, the former chairman of Police Service Commission (PSC) Chief Simon Okeke has charged the members of National Assembly(NASS) to tinker with Nigeria’s constitution to accommodate state policing.
Chief Okeke who was speaking with journalists in his Akatar residence in Amichi in Nnewi South local government area of Anambra State said that it has become imperative for the members of the National Assembly to come up with a bill for state policing so that the governors can be responsible for security in their states.
The former police boss said that the Federal Government should handoff security matters of different states and concentrate on cross border crimes.
“Every governor should hire and fire security officers in their respective states as was the case until 1967. In USA, each state has her own police formation, so also are the counties even universities have different independent police organizations there.” He said.
The Amichi High Chief said that the purpose of setting up different levels of police authorities is to take security closer to the people unlike in the present Nigeria setting where one man will be attempting to police a population of two hundred million people.
He said that insecurity has assumed a worrisome dimension in the South East especially in Anambra State that was hitherto referred to as the safest state in Nigeria.
“The EndSARS demonstration destroyed the stability which the South East was known for when known and unknown people joined the demonstration and crowned it with looting of government properties, burnt down police formations and arms were stolen. Nearly all the police stations in Nnewi North and Nnewi South council areas were razed down.
“It is uncertain what people are now reacting to, whether it is the hoodlums that participated in the EndSARS protests are now on rampage distablising the equilibrium of the South Eastern states.” Chief Okeke noted.
The former police boss said with concern that most of the police formations destroyed by hoodlums during the EndSARS protests were actually built by the communities and in some cases individuals with the community.
“When you destroy police stations under whatever guise, you are actually destroying your own properties. In Amichi for example, I built the police station and handed it over to police authorities, the community donated the land on which the station is sitting.” He explained.
Chief Okeke said something must be done urgently to boost the morale of the demoralized, disillusioned and frightened security agents.
This according to him should be with immediate effect so that the insecurity in the zone would not adversely affect the Anambra State November 6 governorship election.
