LAGOS LAWYERS BACK STATE POLICE:

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Lagos chapter, on Sunday said that the establishment of state police would check the activities of gunmen and other crimes in the states.

Mr Philip Njeteneh, the Financial Secretary of NBA, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

Njeteneh, who was reacting to the wanton killings in the country, said that with the recent trend of criminal activities, there was need to establish a state police to check them.

He, however, called for caution in setting up a state police to avoid abuse.

“Although there is the need to establish a state police, I don’t think we have attained that level of managing their existence.

“The only factor I perceive to militate against its establishment is the issue of abuse of its purpose,” Njeteneh said.

He said that though the creation of state police would stem the crime rate in the states, it might also be used as a ready tool in the hands of some bigwigs for their own selfish purpose.

According to him, caution must be applied to avoid abuse of its purpose.

A lawyer and human rights activist, Mr Festus Keyamo also called for creation of a state police.

Keyamo said that ideally, there was need for state police in a federal set up.

“In a federal set up like ours, I see nothing wrong with establishing a state police if it is done to help check crime in the state.

“The existence of a state police cannot be over emphasised, it is important, instrumental and needful in a political set up like ours, especially in the wake of incessant killings in the country.

“My only fear stems from the fact that their existence can become readymade tools for misuse of power by certain individuals in the society.

He urged the government to put in place machineries aimed at checking their activities to avoid abuse.

A Lagos based lawyer and member of NBA, Lagos, Mr Ogedi Ogu said that it was important to set up a state police if there would be commitment to make it work.

Ogu said that the real issue was not in setting up a special police force for the state, but in ensuring its smooth operation within the state.

He said that for a purposeful leadership, there must be adequate effort to combat societal ills which could best be achieved by establishment of a viable state police force.

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About Unknown

Deji Sadiq, a.k.a DEJI OF LAGOS is a LASU trained Economist turned freelance journalist, a Blogger, an information strategist, a public affairs analyst and a committed activist with a passion for equal opportunities.