By Milcah Tanimu
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State has voiced strong support for the establishment of state police, asserting that the current central police system is inadequate in addressing Nigeria’s growing security challenges.
Speaking at the Annual General Conference of the Nigeria Bar Association at Tafawa Balewa Square in Lagos, Aiyedatiwa highlighted the urgent need for state-level policing. In his lecture during the Breakout Session titled “Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu Leadership Series: Is State Police a Solution to National Insecurity?”, he emphasized that the central policing structure has failed to adequately protect citizens from escalating threats.
“The centralised policing structure, once envisioned as the protector and servant of the people, has proven inadequate in the face of the complex and evolving security challenges of our time,” Aiyedatiwa remarked. “It has failed to shield us from marauders who instill fear in our communities and is limited in its capacity to address the pervasive threats on our highways and farmlands.”
He pointed to the success of the South West Security Network, known as Amotekun, as a promising model for state-level security. Launched under the leadership of his late predecessor, Governor Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, and supported by fellow South-West governors, Amotekun has demonstrated the potential of state-run security initiatives.
“Amotekun has soared to unprecedented heights, becoming a shining example of the transformative power of state-level security,” Aiyedatiwa noted. He assured that Amotekun will continue to be funded and supported to enhance its operations and effectiveness in Ondo State.
Aiyedatiwa’s comments reflect a growing sentiment among some Nigerian leaders that decentralized policing could offer a more responsive and effective solution to the nation’s security issues.
