Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo has called for the creation of state police amid increasing security challenges in the country.
Osinbajo made this call at a National Assembly security summit; he said the creation of state police would help tighten security across the nation.
According to him, ‘’the state police system is the way to go as the practised of a centralized system is not effective enough to secure the nation.
Aside from calling for the creation of state police, Professor Osinbajo also wants the Nigerian Police Force to be strengthened; he proposed that the current number of police in the country be tripled.
He also called for more funding for the police as well as other security agencies.
His comments come at a time when the police have come under criticism with some questioning its ability to effectively play its role.
Meanwhile the House of Representatives has called for the removal of the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, and the Police Public Relations Officer, Moshood Jimoh, after condemning their actions and utterances in connection with the killings in Benue.
While the lawmakers wanted the IGP out for his failure in carrying out his duties, they condemned the PPRO for referring to the Benue State Governor as a “drowning man”.
However, the killings in Benue and some other parts of the country which have been blamed on herdsmen, have also led to criticism for President Buhari’s administration.
Vice President Osinbajo also refuted the allegations that the President is ignoring the killings by herdsmen because he is Fulani. He added that no other issue preoccupies the President as much as the killings in the country.
Osinbajo, therefore, warned stakeholders not to allow the conflict between herdsmen and farmers assume ethnic and religious dimensions.
