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Nairaland Forum / Nairaland / General / Politics / Why Nigeria needs State/local police forces (Read bold parts) (2207 Views)
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Why Nigeria needs State/local police forces (Read bold parts) by Blue3k(m): 3:33pm On Apr 28, 2017 |
Let me move on to another area concerning police and security in which mandated centralization has wreaked havoc on the provision of basic security and policing services in every-day life in Nigeria. Well up until the onset of military rule in 1966, Nigeria Police Force had an illustrious history. Formed from the British West African Frontier Force in 1898, the Nigeria Police Force was a paramilitary constabulary with quasi-police functions (see Tamuno 1970). Under colonial rule, the austere Nigeria Police Force had a civil companion in neighbourly Native Authority Police formations which functioned under the control of local governments in the North and West. Or, as a pair of authors reported the matter, "The [Nigerian Police] Force was assisted in the North and in the West by local native administration [N.A.] forces of varying size and quality ... No such forces existed in the East" (Clayton and Killingray 1989: 26). Excerp from: Military Rule and Damage to the Spirit of the Nigerian Constitution By Peter Ekeh Front page again please. Mynd44 lalasticlala Seun 1 Like |
Re: Why Nigeria needs State/local police forces (Read bold parts) by Blue3k(m): 4:17pm On Apr 28, 2017 |
Historical facts like this make me wonder why some people are so fond of the despotic military rulers Nigeria suffered with. They are the majority of the reason issues like this carried over in civilian rule. Fact is the constitution banned states and local governments forming their own police forces. This cattle herdsmen issue could be better solved locally by having local rural police. One could postulate vigilante groups form because of vacuum in law enforcement. The fact is we had pretty successful police force with international recognition. Now they are only known for taken bribes and the butt of many sleeping and dancing memes. Constitutional reforms should be considered in this area as well. We could have more local policing this way police are more accountable to us. In Texas where I live The Sheriff is elected by the people. Nigeria should in my opinion be more democratic instead of centralized. The international example Mr. Ekah pointed out very true. it is noteworthy that some of the most efficient police forces in the modern world are owned and operated by local governments of cities. New York Police Department (NYPD) and the London Metropolitan Police are first rate police organizations of international standing that are run by local governments. Why should Nigeria constitutionally bar its metropolitan areas from the opportunities of participating in developments that are the hallmark of the twenty-first century? Of course, a slimmer Federal Nigeria Police Force has its own important share to contribute to the overall security needs of the nation. But it must not be overburdened. PS: It's weird to me schools not teaching history is brought up as tragedy but nobody cares to read these kind of post. Anything over 500 word no go. I would cut more but I dont want context to be lost. DrGoodman amoduokoh signz ElsonMorali mandax ZombiePUNISHER Afam4eva BeardedMeat krendo Lyoncrescent Guyman02 Ovamboland Jetleeee LoveMachine Billyonaire davidif omohayek 1 Like |
Re: Why Nigeria needs State/local police forces (Read bold parts) by DrGoodman: 4:38pm On Apr 28, 2017 |
Blue3k: If we are truly serious about security, then each state has to own it's policing. There is no way a Fulani man can be a DPO in Delta state and fight crime like a local who knows the pains and gains of an efficient police force. This current system is being supported by those who use the police to keep the masses tied to their selfish interest. That is why someone can stay in Abuja and rig elections in Bayelsa state. 2 Likes |
Re: Why Nigeria needs State/local police forces (Read bold parts) by Blue3k(m): 5:02pm On Apr 28, 2017 |
DrGoodman: I think the a good point but I think another huge issue is the fact. These police men don't feel accountable to us. If their money and job secruity comes from Abuja. It's not a popular topic despite insecurity in country like LG autonomy. I speculate if they were directly elected by us. They would behave themselves better. They would stop collecting bribes on roadside and other sort of nonsense they do if their Oga's feet are to fire. The people should decide if the police are appointed by some exuactive or directly elected. PS: Maybe I should change title to why Nigeria need State/local police forces. Let them read bold parts. They might not read but they give 2 cents anyway. 3 Likes |
Re: Why Nigeria needs State/local police forces (Read bold parts) by Nobody: 5:19pm On Apr 28, 2017 |
Blue3k: UR points are good bro.. BUT for me, Nigeria is not ripe for state policing YET. My points are as follows: 1. FUNDS: Almost all states are finding it very difficult to pay their workers salary... Police cannot afford to takee that. 2. State/Local police will be use to oppress the oppositions or minorities. |
Re: Why Nigeria needs State/local police forces (Read bold parts) by Blue3k(m): 5:51pm On Apr 28, 2017 |
amoduokoh: 1. I agree on that point. Fiscal finances will definitely need to be sorted out. The only reason this system was effective in the past was because the Regions and local governments sourced taxes from populace in domain. 2. The blue section I bolded showed the local component to Policing without much oppression of minority tribes. I understand the fear though it same in that occurred then aswell. If the experience in Lagos local government police units were satisfactory we could model it off of that. 1 Like |
Re: Why Nigeria needs State/local police forces (Read bold parts) by omohayek: 6:29pm On Apr 28, 2017 |
amoduokoh:1. The point you raise about funding is just a symptom of a larger disease, namely that most "states" have no business even existing, and were only created so yet more mouths could "chop" from the "national cake" of Niger-Delta oil revenues. The residents of an LGA should be willing to put together their own funds to pay for their own protection, by paying their local taxes. The upside to this is that they will have real power to hold their policemen accountable. 2. This is why I am a believer in emphasizing local rather than state police: even if a particular ethnic group dominates a whole state, the odds of their dominating each and every local government is much lower, and policemen who are recruited and paid for by independent LGAs won't be under the thumb of tyrannical state governors. In any case, the current system we have is already used by certain ethnic groups to oppress others - just look at how Fulani-herdsmen or Hausa clashes always lead to lopsided arrests of the middle-belt or southern groups they're clashing with. 3 Likes 1 Share |
Re: Why Nigeria needs State/local police forces (Read bold parts) by EVarn(m): 7:20pm On Apr 28, 2017 |
The problems with this idea are: 1.States will definitely use the police to oppress opposition and even influence elections. 2.There would be problem of inter-state police cooporation; it will become harder/slower to trace crime and apprehend suspects due to bureaucratic hurdles that comes with jurisdiction,hence,efficiency is reduced because a criminal can simply abscond to another state. 3.Funding: even with a restructured federation,it would take time before States/LGs can be able to fund independent police forces. However,I think we can have an effective police system if we: 1.Make the police force an independent institution(either it be Federal,State or Local Government); with a stipulated term of office for top positions,just like what we did with the CBN.With this,political interference will be limited to the barest minimum. 2.Change the goddamn uniform,it looks horrible. |
Re: Why Nigeria needs State/local police forces (Read bold parts) by omohayek: 9:08pm On Apr 28, 2017 |
EVarn:1. I've already answered this question - you need to move from thinking about the state to the local government, i.e. the equivalent of American county sheriffs. Whose power is easier to abuse, a sheriff who is accountable directly to you and your fellow residents in the same neighborhood, or one who only answers to someone sitting in a state capital, or, even worse, in faraway Aso Rock? 2. Why is this automatically a problem? Just because a state considers an individual a criminal doesn't mean other states should always support the claim. Have you ever heard of America's "Fugitive Slave Act of 1850"? It was passed at the federal level because some northern states refused to help the southern states enforce slavery. This is a clear case where having a uniform federal law was worse than the state-by-state case you're against. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fugitive_Slave_Act_of_1850 Turning to the Nigerian situation, do you really want a situation where the likes of Zamfara can force middle-belt and southern states to help them enforce sharia, with its arm-chopping and eye-plucking punishments? Do you want state governors to be able to issue federal arrest warrants against out-of-state bloggers who they think are "insulting" them? |
Re: Why Nigeria needs State/local police forces (Read bold parts) by omohayek: 9:11pm On Apr 28, 2017 |
SIRmanjar:You don't even bother to list a single reason why, yet expect your opinion to be taken seriously ... |
Re: Why Nigeria needs State/local police forces (Read bold parts) by EVarn(m): 9:38pm On Apr 28, 2017 |
Mr Omohayek,here are the points I was trying to make; 1.The state governors or even local government chairpersons' wouldnt be the ones issuing the arrest warrants; the police should be independent and have power to act unilaterally.In your post,you alluded to the state governors being able to issue a "federal arrest warrant",something only the court can do. 2.The issue of jurisdiction; If say an ijaw man kills another man in Lagos and runs to Bayelsa,what happens when the bayelsa police department refuses to aid the arrest of such a person probably because they suspect tribal persecution?,even if they are willing,the process will be slow(involving sharing of intel,investigation,profiling and perusal of criminal record from one state to another) and by the time action is taken,the suspect would be on the run again. However,I think the idea could work only with completely independent and autonomous police forces. |
Re: Why Nigeria needs State/local police forces (Read bold parts) by Blue3k(m): 9:41pm On Apr 28, 2017 |
EVarn: 1. The Fedreal government would still be there to investigate these matters. Isn't that job of INEC to handle these affairs. Next The National Police force won't completely disapear. They can be like FBI handling these sort of cases and other limited duties. The Police Sheriff could be elected by the people in each LG. 2. The bueracracy won't be big deal copy USA don't reinvent wheel. FBI was created because of interstate crimes in USA. States would simply need to have extradition rules with eachother. 3. Funding might be hard but it won't be overnight process. The level crime and tax base will determine some of these concerns. The solutions are interesting You should make forum post on point 1. Point 2 they can handle that without any reform. 2 Likes |
Re: Why Nigeria needs State/local police forces (Read bold parts) by EVarn(m): 9:47pm On Apr 28, 2017 |
Blue3k: What do you think about completely autonomous police forces? |
Re: Why Nigeria needs State/local police forces (Read bold parts) by omohayek: 9:50pm On Apr 28, 2017 |
EVarn:1. You won't see my disagreeing with you here. I was trying to address the concern that state police would be turned into tools of state governors, and I think locally recruited and funded police are an effective antidote to that danger. All other things being equal, controlling 770 different locally-funded police forces will be a lot harder than controlling 36 state forces, let alone a single nation-wide force. 2. As the saying goes, "It is better that a hundred guilty men go free, than that an innocent man should be unjustly punished". The counterpart to the risk you raise is that, for example, a southerner is accused of desecrating the Quran in Kano, and is then subjected to a judicial lynching to satisfy bloodthirsty mobs of religious fanatics (remember Gideon Akaluka?). I don't think it's a bad thing for police forces to need solid evidence to get forces in other states to cooperate with them, especially given how partial Nigerians are to irrational fervor and mob sympathies. 1 Like |
Re: Why Nigeria needs State/local police forces (Read bold parts) by Blue3k(m): 10:12pm On Apr 28, 2017 |
EVarn: I have no opinion I have no idea how it would turn out. I mean everything else is being consessioned off. Private prisons in USA turned bad I don't know how private police would work honestly. |
Re: Why Nigeria needs State/local police forces (Read bold parts) by HughJazz(m): 2:50am On Apr 29, 2017 |
EVarn:On number 2. Lagos state police can petition the federal government like npf to get him in his state. If the state are not willing to give him up. |
Re: Why Nigeria needs State/local police forces (Read bold parts) by davidif: 4:37am On Apr 29, 2017 |
amoduokoh: Well local and state govts should be forced to raise there own revenue and run there own districts by themselves. That's how things work in developed countries. Policing is left to local govt and that's how its supposed to be in Nigeria. 2. State/Local police will be use to oppress the oppositions or minorities. And this is why judges and police commissioners at the local and state level should be elected by the people like they also do abroad that way they are accountable to the people and not the governors that appointed them. 3 Likes |
Re: Why Nigeria needs State/local police forces (Read bold parts) by SIRmanjar(m): 8:30am On Apr 29, 2017 |
HughJazz: As good as it may sound I don't think we are ready for it now..Tribalism will hinder it.Imagine it's possible and a riot breaks out how will the state police handle the issue without taken sides with an indegene ad without been biased..e.g the Hausa vs yoruba mile 12 riot and the current ife crisis will a yoruba police not take side with a yoruba crowd?Yes they will..They must defend there kinsmenz interest. So friend we are not ready for that now..There will be clash of interest, state and federal interest..We need a wazobian police not state police based on the 250 ethnic groups in Nigeria. |
Re: Why Nigeria needs State/local police forces (Read bold parts) by HughJazz(m): 8:45am On Apr 29, 2017 |
SIRmanjar: before you where able to walk with your 2 feet. you fell couple of times. We must give it a try . it's gonna be step by step . and it's already happening , if you have been watching the news lately you'll see states are already organizing their vigilantes into groups and they are working with police and it's yielding results already. you cannot police from above man. it's from below. let just see what happens. stop being a pessimist. thats the thing with Nigerians , they are not willing to tweak the system for it to work. |
Re: Why Nigeria needs State/local police forces (Read bold parts) by SIRmanjar(m): 9:02am On Apr 29, 2017 |
HughJazz:Am no pessimist it's just that I know this country too well..State police will cos more division. Yes the vigilantes can work side by side with the police but under the police..Even the vigilantes u mentioned I remember back in the days, when opc was introduced.I know how they oppressed ad clashed with other tribes in lagos hausas,ijaws etc,They killed innocent people for no reason.Thanks to the federal govt for serving them hot humble pie with chilled fanta..Those are the kind of tribalistic people that will police the state if giving the permission o.I don't want to mention bakassi boys that's a story for another day |
Re: Why Nigeria needs State/local police forces (Read bold parts) by HughJazz(m): 9:15am On Apr 29, 2017 |
SIRmanjar: The criterial of recruitment will be different. they should be trained by the NPF and go to the NPF for training. stuff like that removes tribalism since they will mix with other people in the training , after that you go back to your states and join your states or local government police. very simple . I remembered when i as a kid in lagos and our community used to employ vigilantes , it was a community levy everyone had to pay per month to the landlord association. it was so safe at night. we would even leave our doors open. and that was in lagos. we knew the vigilantes and they knew us. that's how policing works. people don't go out looking for other tribes to victimize . if everyone know the police man in his or her neighborhood crime will reduce because the criminal will be easily apprehended . |
Re: Why Nigeria needs State/local police forces (Read bold parts) by SIRmanjar(m): 9:27am On Apr 29, 2017 |
HughJazz: Even if they train with angels,It won't change anytin.A bigot is a bigot..Once they go back to there various states that tribal hate will still take over them. Vigilantes victim ain't people they protect..How them go kill person wey dey feed dem?But innocent people they don't know,or havnt u heard of countless stories of innocent people they killed just becos they came visiting there friend that leave in the street they protect. |
Re: Why Nigeria needs State/local police forces (Read bold parts) by omohayek: 11:01am On Apr 29, 2017 |
SIRmanjar:You write as if the current Nigerian police force was devoid of tribal bigotry. If this is so, why is it that when Fulani herdsmen clash with locals anywhere, it is always the locals who get arrested? Why is it that the only side arrested after the Hausa-Yoruba clash in Ile-Ife were the Yorubas, despite everyone acknowledging that the clash was provoked in the first place by the Hausas? If the Nigerian police force is so free of tribalism, why are peaceful IPOB protesters shot down in cold blood, while a northern policeman can openly and with impunity threaten to go on a killing spree should Buhari die in office? The real difference local police forces will make is that the tribalism which already exists will no longer be one-sided affair that only ever benefits northerners. |
Re: Why Nigeria needs State/local police forces (Read bold parts) by SIRmanjar(m): 12:40pm On Apr 29, 2017 |
omohayek:Thank you the nigerian police ad army is a wazobian force still yet some people accuse them of bigotry at times,so imagine what will happen when it's a one tribe dominated force. In Nigeria as long as Its a wazobian police force the victims involved won't be so pained when they trample dere right but in a situation where the police is dominated by one tribe then the victims involved will be offended and they will surely cry tribalism. If the state police of a thing shuld work out the Nigerians I know must accuse the police of tribalism everyday. |
Re: Why Nigeria needs State/local police forces (Read bold parts) by davidif: 4:05am On Jul 05, 2017 |
Goodness!!!!! Abeg, who wrotre tgmhe Nigerian constitution? That person needs to have their heads examined. |
Re: Why Nigeria needs State/local police forces (Read bold parts) by davidif: 4:07am On Jul 05, 2017 |
DrGoodman: Nope! Policing should be left to communities or local govt and their police commissioners (and judges) should be elected by the people. |
Re: Why Nigeria needs State/local police forces (Read bold parts) by davidif: 4:15am On Jul 05, 2017 |
amoduokoh: The only for a child to learn how to walk is to WALK. If they fall then they should try again. All this babying of local govts has not worked. Let them be given autonomy to raise revenue from local property taxes and create their own police force. That's how things work in developed countries.
Everybody keeps saying this but this are unfounded fears. It's this fear that stops Nigerians from pursuing the right policies. State/local police cannot necessarily be used to oppress people in a community if the head of the police or the state commissioners (and judges) are elected by the people themselves. If they do so then the federal govt can step in. 1 Like |
Re: Why Nigeria needs State/local police forces (Read bold parts) by davidif: 4:27am On Jul 05, 2017 |
EVarn: Bros, it doesn't matter. If you commit a crime in Texas and you flee to New York and are arrested there they usually send you back to Texas so jurisdiction don't mean much as their is a federal database and if you truly want to get rid of this so called tribalism then get rid of the stupid concept called "State of Origin". It is one of the dumbest things I have ever heard of. It's the reason that after all this year's Nigeria is still not United. How can an ibo guy born and raised in Abeokuta be told he is not from Ogun state simply because his father is from somewhere else. Mind you the guy probably goes to his so called father's state of origin once a year (Christmas or easter). The stupidity of that concept is mind boggling at times. |
Re: Why Nigeria needs State/local police forces (Read bold parts) by davidif: 4:38am On Jul 05, 2017 |
omohayek: First off, you are not controlling those police depts. They are autonomous bodies overseen by the people of the communities who appointed them. If they mess up, then the state govt (Or Fed govt) can swoop In and arrest those responsible for wrong doing. Secondly, Sharia law is contradictory to the constitution of the Fed republic and should be illegal. Any state that wants sharia should make a decide if it wants to be part of the republic and abode by its rules or leave. You can't eat your cake and have it at the same time. |
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