The abduction of 286 students and teachers from two schools in Kaduna has been attributed to the shortcomings of Nigeria’s federal policing system by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
Anthony Ojukwu, the Executive Secretary of the commission, made this assertion during a stakeholders’ dialogue on state police organised by the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre in Abuja.
The incident occurred when bandits invaded the Kuriga area of the Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, sparking national outrage.
Ojukwu highlighted that such tragedies could have been prevented if the nation had prioritised the security of all citizens over the elite and affluent. He advocated for the implementation of state police to address security challenges like banditry.
He criticised the current federal police setup, stating its origins in colonial times as aimed at enforcing tax collection. Ojukwu emphasised that the police predominantly protect the elite, leaving the masses vulnerable.
The NHRC boss stressed the urgency of reforming the federal policing system to allow for the establishment of state police, warning that without such reforms, incidents of abduction and insecurity would persist.
However, Professor Etannibi Alemika from the University of Jos disagreed with the notion of introducing state police.
He expressed concerns that state police forces might be manipulated by governors and influential figures, proposing instead the idea of local government-level policing.
Alemika raised issues regarding the recruitment process and the potential dominance of officers from specific states, suggesting that local policing might offer a more viable solution.
