- Tinubu Assures Nigerians of Guardrails Against State Police Abuse
- Traditional Rulers Will Help Check State Police Excesses
- Says State Police, Forest Guards Key to Nigeria’s Security Strategy
President Bola Tinubu has assured Nigerians that the proposed state police system will include safeguards to prevent abuse by state governors, saying the Federal Government is committed to building a security structure that remains accountable while improving public safety, Eko Hot Blog reports.
Speaking on Thursday while receiving members of the Oyo State Council of Obas, led by the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, the President said the proposed state police would operate with checks and balances, while traditional rulers would also play oversight roles.
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“There will be state police. That state police will have guardrails against abuses. We will protect it from abuses, and you traditional rulers too will have roles to play,” Tinubu said.
The President also disclosed that the Federal Government is strengthening the capacity of forest guards to combat criminal elements operating in forests across the country.
“We are equally enhancing the capacity and capability of the forest guards; they are not just to chase antelopes and animals. We are going to have them chase the criminals and deal with them in various forests,” he added.
Tinubu further revealed that the Federal Government has expanded the Nigerian Army from eight to 12 divisions to improve response time and enhance the military’s ability to tackle terrorism, banditry and other security threats nationwide.
He commended the armed forces for the successful rescue of abducted pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, attributing the operation’s success to the government’s refusal to negotiate with kidnappers.
“We refused to negotiate. These criminals wanted us to release members of their criminal gangs already in detention as part of their conditions, aside from the ransom they demanded. We said no deal. We are not going to negotiate with criminals,” the President said.
Tinubu noted that some criminal elements involved in insecurity are foreign nationals, adding that instability in neighbouring Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger Republic has worsened Nigeria’s security challenges.
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant, know their communities and promptly report suspicious persons and activities to security agencies, stressing that intelligence gathering remains critical to defeating criminality.
On the economy, the President said Nigeria’s fiscal position has improved significantly, noting that states now receive higher allocations than before. He advised governors to prioritise the construction of road infrastructure that would improve connectivity and enable security agencies to access remote communities rather than embarking on unnecessary flyover projects.
Earlier, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, commended Tinubu for the successful rescue of the abducted pupils and teachers and praised the administration’s efforts in infrastructure development.
The monarch also advocated true federalism and constitutional roles for traditional rulers, pledging the support of the traditional institution for the success of the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
FURTHER READING
- Lagos Govt Threatens Legal Action Against Assault on Doctors, Nurses
- Northern Insecurity Will Soon Be History, Tinubu Assures
- Tinubu Calls on Universities to Drive Innovation, National Development
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