Sophia Michaels
Apex lgbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide, applauded the Federal Government and state governors over their agreement to establish state police across the country.
Ohanaeze had been at the forefront of advocating for the creation of state police as a strategic measure to address the prevailing security challenges of the nation.
A statement signed on Friday by Ohanaeze’s factional Secretary-General, Mazi Okechukwu lsiguzoro, said the decision reflects a realisation that security is a local matter, and community policing is the indispensable ingredient needed to combat insecurity, especially in the South-East region.
Ohanaeze said the implementation of the state police aligns with one of the key recommendations of the 2014 Constitutional Conference reports, which the previous administration under President Muhammadu Buhari failed to act upon due to apprehensions.
“We commend President Bola Tinubu for indirectly steering the implementation of this vital recommendation. This momentous decision brings an end to the era of fear concerning the deployment of Igbo and Christian personnel to Boko Haram-controlled areas.
“In the past, Igbo youth perceived police recruitment exercises as potential death sentences, fearing they would be posted to Northern regions grappling with Boko Haram terrorists and banditry. However, with the introduction of state police and community policing, a new ray of hope emerges,” it said.
The body opined that the creation of state police and the embrace of community policing presents remarkable avenues for job creation, specifically addressing the massive youth unemployment crisis.
It suggests the deployment of personnel within their respective localities to ensure that every employed individual serves their community with unwavering dedication.
“Consequently, with the President’s recent pronouncement on increased police recruitment, Igbo youths will wholeheartedly seize this opportunity, unburdened by the fear of deployment to the North.
“Ndigbo insists that they firmly believes that the establishment of state police is the long-awaited answer to our prayers, a crucial step towards resolving the pervasive security challenges plaguing our nation. We express our unwavering commitment to supporting and collaborating with the government and relevant stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of this landmark decision,” it added.
President Bola Tunubu and state governors on Thursday in Abuja finally approved the establishment of state police to curb insecurity.
