Yemi Osinbajo, Nigeria’s vice president, on Thursday, February 8, 2018, stated that state police is the solution to solving the Nigeria’s increasing security challenges.
Speaking at the National Assembly’s Security Summit, saying that embracing state police would help to beef up security in the country.
Osinbajo said the state policing system was the way to go as a centralised police system would not solve the nation’s security challenges currently being witnessed.
The vice president also called for the strengthening of the police force by increasing the workforce, as well as adequate funding of the police force.
Osinbajo debunked allegations that President Muhammadu Buhari was ignoring the killings by herdsmen because he is Fulani, saying that the president was very much concerned about the Benue killings.
He further warned Nigerians not to allow the conflict between herdsmen and farmers assume ethnic and religious dimensions.
Professor Osinbajo’s comments come at a time when the police have come under criticism with some questioning its ability to effectively play its role.
On Wednesday, the House of Representatives 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 “failings”, they condemned the PPRO for referring to the Benue State Governor as a “drowning man”.
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.
But Vice President Osinbajo rejected insinuations that the President is ignoring the killings by herdsmen because he is Fulani.
He said no other issue preoccupies the President as much as the killings in the country.
The VP, therefore, warned stakeholders not to allow the conflict between herdsmen and farmers assume ethnic and religious dimensions.
The two-day summit which is taking place at the NAF Conference Center, Ahmadu Bello Way, Abuja, is aimed at providing an all-inclusive platform for finding long-term solutions to the security challenges in Nigeria.
