Rep Stanley Olajide calls for urgent action following Ibadan explosion, emphasizing the role of community policing in tackling national insecurity
In a resounding declaration of intent, Representative Stanley Olajide, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Information Communication Technology (ICT), announced the unwavering commitment of the 10th National Assembly to enact laws for the establishment of state police. Addressing the press in Abuja on Wednesday, Olajide underscored the urgency of this legislative initiative in the wake of heightened security challenges across the country.
Community policing as a smart solution
Commencing with condolences for the victims of the recent explosion in Ibadan, Rep Stanley Olajide stressed the importance of community policing as a proactive and intelligent approach to law enforcement. He lamented the failure to share crucial information promptly, emphasizing that community policing allows individuals to play an active role in the security of their communities.
“Community policing is actually one of the very smartest ways to police your people; somebody sees something, somebody knows something, they need to speak at the right time,” Olajide stated. “Failure to do so will cause a situation like this. So, we are going to reopen that because, as you remember, we have also been talking about state police; we will be talking about community police.”
He emphasized the urgency of addressing the issue, signaling its prominence in the upcoming legislative agenda. “So, definitely, we are going to pick this up, and it is going to be on the front burner of the activities of the House as soon as we reconvene,” he asserted.
Swift response to Ibadan explosion and the call for thorough investigation
Commending the prompt intervention of Governor Seyi Makinde and the first responders to the tragic incident in Ibadan, Olajide highlighted the need for a comprehensive investigation to prevent future occurrences. The explosion, which occurred at approximately 8 pm the previous night, prompted the National Emergency Management Agency, Department of State Service (DSS), and the Police to respond swiftly.
Olajide urged the security agencies to conduct a thorough investigation, emphasizing the importance of accountability and preventive measures. The incident served as a catalyst for the renewed focus on legislative actions addressing security concerns.
Calls for true federalism to accelerate State Police establishment
Echoing Olajide’s sentiments, Representative Ademorin Kuye from Lagos expressed condolences to the Government of Oyo and the families of the victims. He emphasized the need to implement true federalism as a crucial step towards accelerating the establishment of state police.
“I believe that President Bola Tinubu, working with the National Assembly, will ensure that we have more state police very soon,” Kuye asserted. The call for true federalism underscores the demand for a decentralized approach to security, allowing states to have a more active role in shaping and implementing security measures.
Current landscape of local security outfits across states
As it stands, 23 states across the nation have local security outfits, though not organized on a regional basis like the South-west’s Western Nigeria Security Network (WNSN), known as Operation Amotekun. States such as Kaduna, Sokoto, Kano, Zamfara, Borno, Yobe, Rivers, Osun, Benue, Katsina, Cross River State, Enugu, Taraba, Adamawa, Anambra, Ondo, Ebonyi, Edo, Nasarawa, Plateau, Niger, Bauchi, and Abia operate various forms of local security outfits.
The ongoing discussions and legislative commitment of the 10th National Assembly bring the establishment of state police into sharper focus, with implications for the broader debate on national security and the evolving role of communities in safeguarding their well-being.
