BREAKING: A STATE POLICE BILL SKIPS THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES’ SECOND READING

Babatunji Wusu –
The House of Representatives’ second reading of the Constitution Amendment Bill, which establishes the state police, was approved.

The initiative, which was introduced by 13 House members, was overwhelmingly supported by legislators who put the country’s current condition of insecurity ahead of their worries about state governors being used as political props.

Remember that 36 state governors and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu attended a meeting earlier to discuss state police as a potential answer to common security issues including kidnapping and banditry.

State police have at last advanced in the amendment phase, despite being a contentious topic since the Seventh National Assembly.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors have cautioned that Nigeria is on the verge of a situation akin to Venezuela and have reaffirmed their belief that state policing is the key to mending the nation’s deteriorating security condition.

In addition, a number of regional sociopolitical groups, such as Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the Middle Belt Forum, and the Northern Elders’ Forum, have continuously pushed for the establishment of state police as a workable answer to the nation’s growing security problems.

Furthermore, nations in the geopolitical zone of the South-West have already established the Amotekun, while their counterparts in the South-East have established Ebube Agu, a state-owned security organization.

Furthermore, the North Central state of Benue is home to the Benue Guards, who have been conducting operations there. States that are vulnerable to banditry, such as Katsina, Zamfara, and others, have also implemented state-instituted security measures.

However, as anticipated, these garments have proven to be ineffectual because neither the federal government nor the presidency have endorsed them.

States keep asking for permission to allow organizations like Amotekun, Ebube Agu, and others to carry assault rifles like AK-47s in order to defend themselves against armed assailants who pose a threat.