Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has reiterated the need for the creation of state police to secure the life and property of Nigerians.
Akeredolu said the present Nigeria Police Force (NPF) is overstretched and understaffed and cannot adequately perform its constitutional duties.
The governor spoke in his office yesterday when he received the new assistant inspector-general of police in charge of Zone 17, AIG Yunnus Mohammed Akira.
He was accompanied to the governor’s office by the commissioner of police in the state, CP Oyediran Oyeyemi.
Governor Akeredolu said the fact that a single police command in Abuja cannot adequately secure the country has led to the demand for state police.
He said, “As you know, Zone 17 is probably one of the newest. When the zone was created, the state Government had to shoulder a lot of responsibilities. When we got you a location, we had to renovate it.
“We do not run away from the fact that the Police are overstretched. In the same way, we do not run away from the fact that a single police command in Abuja will not be adequate to police the large populace of the country. This has led to our demand for State Police.
“We can complement each other. I have had Senior Police Officers who agreed with State Police. Maybe they can’t say it in public. Go to Ekiti and even here in Ondo State, most of the Police Stations have no vehicle. Look at the unfortunate incident that happened in Owo, Police said they had no vehicle to pursue the perpetrators.
“Let us all sit down and agree that we should have a system that will create a division of labour. We can have the Federal Police and then, the State Police. You can face up major tasks like intelligence gathering and pass it to the State Police to work on.
“What is happening, if not for lack of intelligence people will not go to Kuje and attack the place in Abuja. We need your cooperation too in this our cry for a dual Police System that can work together.
“People are moving down south to take refuge in our forest. You don’t have the men and officers to secure the country. Police are understaffed. We appreciate your limitations in terms of men, ammunition and so on.” The Governor said.
Earlier, Akeera said he would carry on with the good work the governor has done on security and deepen it.
