By Correspondent in Minna
The Governor of Niger state, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, has advocated the establishment of state police to bridge security lapses being experienced in Local Government Areas, particularly in rural communities.
The Governor made the call in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mary Noel-Berje in Minna on Tuesday.
The governor’s aide qouted her boss as having made the call when he granted audience to the, Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), led by its leader, Mr. David Kolade Alabi at the Government House, Minna.
The existing Federal Police, according to Governor Bello are facing inadequate manpower and other logistical challenges.
He said:”I strongly believe that state policing is necessary at the lowest level, as the Federal Police can not do it all”.
“It is time to allow for the state police that will grow from the bottom-up for the presence of security personnel to be felt.
“Hopefully, when that is done,we will get some peace and more so, that the police will be employed from the communities they know everyone.”
Governor Bello, who however, said he did not expect the establishment of the state police to be complicated, even if local governments should have their police too, said, “We must break the responsibility from Federal-to-States, and then from the states-to-local governments.
“Even at the local governments level, they should have their police so that, at all levels, there are some measures of control though it shouldn’t be complicated”, Bello added.
He challenged ALGON to ensure the provision of robust administration to the grassroots people.
Earlier, Alabi had informed Governor Bello that he and his team were in Niger state to sympathize with the people and the state government over the recent attacks and kidnappings by bandits and lamented the worsening security situation in the state.
“You will agree with me that the panacea for safety in communities is this call for the state police. It is necessary and also, there is the need for the review of allocation sharing formula in favour of states and LGAs when the state police is finally approved because there will be lots of money required for its takeoff,” he said.
The ALGON leader commended Bello for the giant stride in infrastructure development,especially across the 25 LGAs aimed at bringimg about the desired growth and development in the state.
