The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) nominee, Olufemi Oluyede, has called for an urgent restructuring of the Nigerian Police Force, saying the police should ordinarily manage many operations currently handled by the military.
Mr Oluyede, a lieutenant general and outgoing Chief of Army Staff, made the call on Wednesday while addressing senators during the screening of service chiefs at the Senate chamber.
There is a need for us to improve and maybe probably restructure the police force because most of the jobs that are being done by the army, as we speak, actually lie within the power of the police. So, it’s important for the nation to empower the police, make it stronger, make it more formidable so that they can do their job while we concentrate on defending Nigeria against external aggression,” he said.
Although he did not specify whether the restructuring should involve changes in leadership or operational strategy, Mr Oluyede’s remarks align with calls for localised policing as incidents of armed robbery, communal clashes and other security challenges increased.
The 2014 National Conference, convoked by the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, had recommended the creation of state police as a strategy to reduce insecurity.
The rising cases of banditry, kidnapping, and other terrorist activities have increased pressure from governors and political leaders for the creation of state police.
In the absence of a formal state policing structure, some regions have established informal security outfits such as Amotekun in the South-west, Ebube Agu in the South-east, and Hisbah in the North-west.
Despite these measures, the idea of state police remains contentious.
Some argued that without proper arrangements, state police could be exploited by governors to harass political opponents, suppress dissent, and stifle press freedom. Others submitted that the best way to reduce insecurity is through state policing.
The National Assembly has also pledged to develop a comprehensive legal framework for the establishment of state police in the ongoing constitutional amendment exercise, as part of the legislative commitment to reduce insecurity in the country.
