Boko Haram: ACF, ex-police chiefs reject state police

The northern socio-politicalgroup, the Arewa Consultative Forum, and some ex- police chiefs on Tuesday rejected the Nigeria Governors’ Forum’sdemand for state police. They described creation of state police as an invitationto chaos. But the Action Congress of Nigeria has backed the NGF, saying security in the country should be decentralised. The National Assembly has however said that the possibility of state police will be part of its constitution review. Chairman, Senate Committeeon Information and Media, Enyinnaya Abaribe, on Tuesday told one of our correspondents in Uyo that every option that could enhance security would be considered. “All options to enhance the security of Nigeria, including state police, are tobe considered in the constitution amendment,” hesaid. The ACF National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Anthony Sani, said the group did notback the NGF’s demand for state police, and urged President Goodluck Jonathan to pursue the option of dialogue with the north-based violent Islamic sect, Boko Haram. “In a clime where democracyhas yet to develop, state police would enable the state governors to use policemen to cause havoc for their opponents, reminiscent of how they used their state electoral commissions to conquer andvanquish the opponents at state level, leading to sluggish development,” Sani said. He advised Jonathan to hold talks with Boko Haram, arguing that an attempt by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua to use force against the sect members did not succeed. He said thelate President killed “hundreds of Boko Haram members, including their leader.” Also, a former Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Sunday Ehindero, warned that the creation of state police would lead to the eventual disintegration of Nigeria. Ehindero, who spoke in PortHarcourt, Rivers State, argued that allowing the states to control the police would lead to anarchy because of existing issues among some states and regions in the country.