“Gentlemen, get the thing straight once and for all. The
Policeman isn’t there to create disorder, the police man is there to preserve
disorder[1].”
“A functioning police state needs no police”. [2]
State
policing as the name implies has been defined as a police force under state
authority rather than under the authority of a city or county in the state. It
has also been defined as the police organised and maintained by a state as
distinguished from those of a lower subdivision (as a city or county) of the
state government.[3]. State police should be
differentiated from police state as they have different meanings.
A
police state is a country where people’s freedom, especially to travel and
express political opinions, is controlled by the government, with the help of
the police.[4].
Wikipedia[5]
defines a police state as a state in which the government exercises rigid and
repressive controls over the social, economic, and political life of the
population.
Section 214 of the Nigerian Constitution
establishes the Nigeria Police Force, which makes for a Federal police force
for Nigeria. But considering the deteriorating situation of the security system
in Nigeria especially the Nigerian police Force, various sectors have called for
the establishment of the state police hence a decentralization of the Nigeria
Police Force. However, it is not a settled issue as opinions vary and some
groups are against the establishment of the state police.
Mersim
Law Quest interviewed some Nigerians on this state police issue and their diverse
opinions form the basis of this article. A choice few did not care whether
state policing or federal police, as far as they know, it wouldn’t make any
difference. They have lost hope in the Nigeria Police and nothing can be done
about it.
Another
group although very few believe and advocate for the state police system,
saying that is what Nigeria needs. Mr Ekene Nwogbo[6]
an entrepreneur had this to say; state policing is a good idea because its
easier to operate close systems, shorter processes because of less loops, error
percentage and loop holes is less, you know your target. Focus is optimum;
everything revolves around each other in an easy to manoeuvre manner, you know
your system in and out, errors would be easy and quick to detect thus making
the police serve better. Mr Sam Owojaiye[7]
is of the opinion that state policing is a good idea but it is complex and
needs research but it’s definitely the way forward.
Just
like Mr Sam, Miss Chinenyenwa Idam said she votes for state policing but the
officers should be trained in the use of ICT and new advanced security system
because crime is taking a digital dimension.
Also
Mr Onyeka Ogugbue, an accountant had this to say; state policing is a good
thing because they will go into the nooks and crannies of the communities as
indigenes and security personnels to prevent crimes that ordinarily the federal
police won’t be able to tackle instantly due to proximity. He reiterated that
the idea is to expedite actions in the event of a crime or crime related
issues, he cited the aluu killings as an example, that it would have been
prevented if there was state police and also the different bomb blasts even
with the presence of heavy security personnels around because they know the
terrain more than the officers and know where to strike at a particular point
in time. He concluded by saying crime may not be eliminated completely but can
be reduced to the barest minimum; “so in my opinion, its a good thing o”. A
retired security personnel (names withheld) with so much experience in the
security sector had the following to say:
1. The police will know the terrain: that a
police officer serving in his state will know all the nooks and crannies and
will also know the people to meet for information that will aid better
policing.
2. The people will know their police: when
the people know their police officers they will trust them more and will be
more comfortable to approach them for help and to give them information thus
enhance efficient policing.
3. The police will try to compete and
impress: there will be interstate competition between the different state
police force(s), everyone would want to be cited as a good example.
4. Bribery and corruption will be minimized
because the police officers would be known; nobody will like to be known as
corrupt at home.
5. The police boss will report and take
orders from the state governor, thus skipping the hurdle of paper pushing and
associated delays.
6. The state governor will then appreciate
and play his role as the chief security officer of the state.
7. That is the way it is done in other
federations for instance the United states of America, India, Australia, South
Africa, Britain.
Yet another advocate of state policing said that
Nigeria with a population of about 160 million is too vast and can only be
properly policed through state policing.
Also, state policing would reduce the rate of
unemployment as more people would be recruited into the state police in
proportion to the population of each state.
An
immigration officer (names withheld) also votes for state policing but suggests
there should still be a federal body that can step in when the state police
cannot handle the situation just like the FBI of America. In his words, “step
aside this is the FBI, it will be cool”.
DEMERITS OF STATE POLICE
The
major argument on the opposing side is that Nigeria isn’t matured yet to practice
state policing.
Dr Nnamdi, a medical practitioner had this to say; we
are not yet matured politicians will hike jack it. State owned establishments
are the most owed. The police will be made a private security firm to guard the
high and mighty and secure politicians votes.
He further said that “Federal police system is best for
now, our society is not operating on ideology yet, we are still at a
sentimental stage not good for growth”.
A lawyer who pled to remain anonymous said aside the
fear that politicians will use it to oppress their opponents, if the system
fails or the state government is unable to pay or control them, then there is a
huge risk of more sects like boko haram, massob etc being formed and this time
they will be legally empowered.
A pharmacist and a business man, Mr Jonathan Amadi[8]
had this to say; “the issue of state policing might have some good sides but we
don’t do anything right in this country. It will be hijacked by politicians and
eventually lead to more chaos. It is easy to have a reform in one sector than
in 37 centres”, he said.
Yet another security officer while disagreeing on the
establishment of state police said we are not matured, our type of politics and
politicians, religious and ethnic sentiments, illiteracy. He ended by saying it
will lead to disintegtration of the nation instead of fostering peace and
security.
Some other groups that disagree with the
decentralization of the Nigeria police says States do not have the funds or the
capabilities to handle state police. There are no good roads, no equipments,
Nigeria doesn’t even have a data base, we do not know the people with criminal
records, no correct Data of people that own arms and ammunitions, no good
forensic labs. It will legalize thuggery, there will be oppression of the less
privileged, thereby defeating the aim of democracy, it is the beginning of
disintegration.
We are not taking sides in this article as both sides
have made good points but we shall end with some questions:
*Who will the governors and commissioners of police
report to, under what laws?
*How will the excesses be checked?
*What will be the basis for recruitment of new police
officers?
*Why can’t we try Zonal police system first and see how
it works out?
*If we keep saying, it’s not time, when will it ever be
time, are we not just postponing the evil day?
* Are politicians not already hijacking the security
system?
*How can we restore the dignity/integrity of the police
system whether federal or state?
[1] Richard Daley, a U.S politician during
the anti –Vietnam War riots
[2] William S.Burroughs.
[3] Merriam-
Webster dictionary
[4] Oxford
Advanced Learners Dictionary
[5] Wikipedia,the
free encyclopedia, www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/police_state
[6] CEO,
Dreamwokz.inc
[7] Castle Media Nigeria Ltd
[8] CEO, Dezubik Pharmaceuticals Nig LTD.
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