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Tag: state police

  • Herdsmen get marching orders as Southern Governors ban open grazing

    Herdsmen get marching orders as Southern Governors ban open grazing

    Herdsmen have been given marching orders as Governors of the Southern part of Nigeria on Tuesday banned open grazing across the length and breadth of the Southern parts of the country.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the ban on opening grazing was part of the outcome of a meeting of Southern Nigeria Governors Forum.

    The meeting of the Southern Nigeria Governors Forum was held at the Government House, Asaba, the capital of Delta State.

    At the meeting, the Southern Governors collectively also called for the creation of State Police. They also called for the convocation of national dialogue.

    TNG reports the 17 Governors in the Southern part of the country were in attendance.

    The Governors were received by the Delta State Governor, Sen Ifeanyi Okowa at the State Government House.

    The communiqué issued at the end of the meeting reads: “At its meeting held today, 11th May, 2021, the Southern Governors Forum reviewed the situation in the nation generally and focused on the current security situation, agitations/restructuring, prospect for inter-state collaboration and partnerships as well as on the incidence of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Rising from the meeting, the Forum:

    “affirmed that the peoples of Southern Nigeria remain committed to the unity of Nigeria on the basis of justice, fairness, equity and oneness and peaceful co-existence between and among its peoples with a focus on the attainment of shared goals for economic development and prosperity;

    “observed that the incursion of armed herders, criminals and bandits into the Southern part of the country has presented a severe security challenge such that citizens are not able to live their normal lives including pursuing various productive activities leading to a threat to food supply and general security. Consequently, the meeting resolved that open grazing of cattle be banned across Southern Nigeria;

    “noted that development and population growth has put pressure on available land and increased the prospects of conflict between migrating herders and local populations in the South. Given this scenario, it becomes imperative to enforce the ban on open grazing in the South (including cattle movement to the South by foot);

    “recommended that the Federal Government should support WILLING States to develop alternative and modern livestock management systems;

    “agreed that the progress of the nation requires that urgent and bold steps be taken to restructure the Nigerian Federation leading to the evolution of state police, review of revenue allocation formula in favour of the sub-national governments and creation of other institutions which legitimately advance our commitment to and practice of true federalism;

    “recommended that in view of widespread agitations among our various peoples for greater inclusiveness in existing governance arrangements, the Federal Government should convoke a national dialogue as a matter of urgency;

    “recommended that in deference to the sensitivities of our various peoples, there is need to review appointments into Federal Government Agencies (including Security Agencies) to reflect federal character as Nigeria’s overall population is heterogenous;

    “resolved to foster cooperation among the Southern States and the nation at large;

    “expressed concern on the continued gridlock on the Oshodi – Apapa Expressway and the chokehold it has exerted on the nation’s economy being the sole outlet from Apapa Wharf. The meeting therefore recommended the activation and establishment of ports in other States of the federation to create new jobs and promote socio-economic activities in the country;

    “the meeting expressed concern on the economic implications of another lockdown on the country, and therefore suggested greater coordination and cooperation between Federal and State Governments in evolving strategies for dealing with the pandemic;

    “expressed very grave concern on the security challenge currently plaguing the nation and strongly urged that Mr. President should address Nigerians on the challenges of insecurity and restore the confidence of our people; and

    “expressed gratitude to our host, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for his generosity and hospitality”.

  • PDP tells NASS to amend constitution to create state police

    PDP tells NASS to amend constitution to create state police

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked the National Assembly to immediately amend the constitution and make provision for state police, to guarantee the security of Nigerians.

    The party said the action has become expedient because President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC-led Federal Government can no longer guarantee the safety of lives and property.

    PDP stated this while reacting to a statement by the minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, that banditry and kidnapping are state offenses and are not federal offenses.

    The national publicity secretary of PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, claimed that the statement by the minister was another clear evidence that Buhari is absent and has completely abdicated the responsibilities of his office and capitulated to bandits.

    “Now that President Buhari and the APC-led Federal Government can no longer guarantee the safety of lives and property, the only way out is for the National Assembly to immediately amend the constitution and establish state police to guarantee the security of Nigerians as already recommended by the PDP.

    “The PDP calls on President Buhari to come out of hiding and address the nation, in his own voice, on the worsening insecurity in our country, occasioned by his misrule,” Ologbondiyan said in a statement.

    The PDP spokesman added that Lai Mohammed’s statement further revealed that the Buhari presidency has not been committed to combating banditry but had, all along, been feeding Nigerians with lies, propaganda and falsehood, while bandits are pillaging our nation.

    “It is incredulous that the Buhari Presidency, in its failures, is abdicating a responsibility exclusively vested on it by the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to operate all apparatus of national security; the police, military, paramilitary and all other armed services; to secure lives and property in all parts of our country.

    “Perhaps, President Buhari and his minister of information need to be tutored that the Second Schedule (Exclusive Legislative List) clearly vested the control of all apparatus of national security on the Federal Government and not the states.

    “Items 2, 28, 38, 45, 57 of the Exclusive List are clear in vesting the operation of the police, the military and other armed services; the control of arms and ammunitions as well as criminal records among other statutory paraphernalia of national security on the Federal Government and not the state.

    “The APC and the Buhari Presidency needs to be tutored that bandits and kidnappers are terrorists and that in line with the provisions of our constitution, the agencies vested with the statutory responsibility of protecting Nigerians from such outlaws are under the control of the Federal Government.

    “It is unthinkable that President Buhari, who promised to lead from the front, is now running away from duty while seeking to heap the burden of his office on the states, who do not have control of security agencies.

    “Moreover, the fact that a cabinet minister in the shade of Lai Mohammed is left to address this critical aspect of our national security that is vested on the President, shows that our nation is plagued by Presidential absenteeism and a dysfunctional command structure. Such situation never occurred under the PDP administration,” the party added.

  • Zamfara abduction: State police now a necessity – Atiku

    Zamfara abduction: State police now a necessity – Atiku

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has decried the Friday abduction of over 300 girls from Government Girls Secondary School, Jangebe, Zamfara State.

    According to a statement released by the former Presidential aspirant, the attack has now proven the necessity of states to have the powers to provide security of life and property in their domain.

    “My heart is very heavy over the abduction of our young daughters from Government Girls Secondary School, Jangebe, Zamfara State,” Atiku said.

    “I have had a phone conversation with the Governor of Zamfara, H.E Bello Matawalle, and I am informed that his government is doing everything in its power to secure the release of the abducted students.

    “I have previously made recommendations on how our beloved nation can defeat enemies of the state and win the war on terror, and I stand by those suggestions.

    “However, right now, all hands must be on deck to support the Zamfara state government in securing the release of those abducted.

    “The Federal Government cannot expect the states to provide security of life and property in their domain, without giving them control over internal security. This is now a necessity.”

    He went on to call on the lawmakers across the country to commence the process of ceding policing powers to the States.

    “Thus, I call on the National and State Assemblies to begin the process of constitutional and legal reforms that will make this a reality,” he said. “The Legislature must take the lead, as it seems the Executive may not be able to provide the needed leadership on this issue.

    “My heart goes out to the families of the abducted children, and my right hand of fellowship is extended to Governor Matawalle, to help in any way possible.”

  • Insecurity: El-Rufai demands establishment of state police, decentralised judiciary

    Insecurity: El-Rufai demands establishment of state police, decentralised judiciary

    Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has joined his voice with national analysts calling for devolution of power between the Federal Government and 36 states in the country.

    The governor who was one of the speakers at a programme called ‘Radio Now’s Urgent Conversation’ aired Thursday said state police and devolution of the judiciary is important to save Nigeria from the brink of collapse.

    “I will dwell on three of the issues that I believe are critical to the immediate needs of the country to pull back from the brink.

    “The first, it is imperative for Federal, state, and community policing. We do not have enough police. One centralised police for the country just has not worked.

    “Secondly, we must amend the constitution and relevant laws to ensure control of oil and gas, mines, and minerals in the states that already have control over land under the land use Act with royalties and taxes payable to the Federal Government and the Federation Account

    “Number three, we must rectify the anomaly of a Federation that has a more or less unitary judiciary,” the governor explained.

    While stressing his earlier points highlighted, the governor said, “My first recommendation is to implement the three key devolution proposals that I mentioned above. Give us state police now, vest all minerals in the state now, and decentralised our judiciary now, not tomorrow, not later.”

    El-Rufai also stressed that banditry is a national problem and it is the responsibility of relevant stakeholders to calm nerves through their utterances and not fan the embers of division.

    “It is an understatement to say that Nigeria is in one of its most difficult moments. The genuine fears for their lives and property felt by many citizens across the country need to be assuaged. All responsible persons must show compassion to our compatriots that have been affected while calming nerves.

    “Banditry is a national problem, with victims from all parts of the country, and we should address it with a common resolve,” El-Rufai said.

    According to the governor, the country requires elite consensus to take the poison out of identity politics.

  • Falana, SERAP demand NASS action as presidential panel okays state police

    Falana, SERAP demand NASS action as presidential panel okays state police

    Rights activist and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Femi Falana said the 1999 Constitution must first be amended before the government can implement the recommendation on state or local government police.

    Falana made the statement in reaction to President Muhammadu Buhari’s acceptance of a report recommending the establishment of state and local government police.

    The recommendation was contained the report submitted to the President at the State House, Abuja, by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Presidential Special Panel on Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) Reforms.

    He said that without going through the National Assembly, a single-handed implementation by the President would be null and void.

    A statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu clarified President Buhari’s position on the recommendation.

    He said that the President’s specific directive was that a three-man panel be set up to produce the white paper.

    The statement reads: “The report of the white paper committee will form the basis of the decisions of the government on the many recommendations, including the setting up of state and local government police made by the Ojukwu panel.

    “Until a white paper is produced, it will be premature and pre-emptive to suggest that the recommendations contained in the report have been approved by the President in part or whole.”

    Falana words: “State police is a constitutional issue; there must be an amendment of the constitution in order for the President to approve the recommendation of the National Human Rights Commission.”

    Meanwhile, SERAP Executive Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, said, “What I see in it is that whatever concerns and affects us as a country must be addressed and treated frontally. We have been having security problems and they seem not to go hastily.

    “And that is why I think the directive of the President to the IG to solve the security problems must be taken seriously. What must happen is that the three-month ultimatum given to the IG must be adhered strictly to, for effective results.”

  • Presidency clarifies air over Buhari’s ‘approval’ of state, LG police

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday received a report on the reform of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

    The President requested that the report be studied and a white paper produced within three months.

    A statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, said that President Buhari’s specific directive is that a three-man panel be set up to produce the white paper.

    “The report of the white paper committee will form the basis of the decisions of the government on the many recommendations, including the setting up of state and local government police made by the Ojukwu panel.

    “Until a white paper is produced, it will be premature and pre-emptive to suggest that the recommendations contained in the report have been approved by the President in part or whole.

  • Osinbajo reinstates support for fiscal federalism, state police

    Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has restated that he is an advocate of fiscal federalism, stronger state governments and state police.

    Osinbajo made this submission while delivering the 40th Anniversary Lecture of the Association of Friends on Monday in Lagos.

    The theme of the lecture is “Restructuring and the Nigerian Federation.”

    He reiterated his stance that good governance was what Nigeria needed rather than geographical restructuring.

    “I have been an advocate, both in court and outside, of fiscal federalism and stronger state governments.

    ” I have argued in favour of state police, for the simple reason that policing is a local function.

    “You simply cannot effectively police Nigeria from Abuja; only recently, I made a point that stronger, more autonomous states would effectively eradicate poverty.

    ” So, I do not believe that geographical restructuring is an answer to Nigeria’s socio-economic circumstances.

    “That would only result in greater administrative costs; but there can be no doubt that we need deeper fiscal federalism and good governance.”

    He argued that state governments had enormous constitutional powers which they should harness to better their fortunes.

    The vice president said that the Supreme Court held that states had a constitutional right to create local governments, pursuant to Section 8 of the Constitution.

    He said that the creation remained incomplete until the National Assembly, by resolution, amended the existing list of local governments to capture the newly created councils.

    Osinbajo said further that the apex court ruled also that with respect to federal land, the state had exclusive authority to grant authority to for building or developmental control permits.

    He said further that the Supreme Court ruled in favour of Lagos State Government as it struck down many provisions of the law that sought to give the Federal Government control over local government funding.

    Osinbajo said that pursuant to the Supreme Court ruling, Lagos State Government created, by State Law, Local Government Council Development Areas(LCDAs) to activate the newly created local government councils, until such a time the National Assembly would complete the process.

    He said that the Lagos State Government took the challenge which resulted in the state earning more Internally Generated Revenue(IGR) than 30 Nigerian states put together.

    Osinbajo said it was wrong to mix up all the issues of good governance and diversification of the economy with the argument on corruption.

    “Good governance involves inter alia, transparency and prudence in public finance.

    ” It involves social justice, investing in the poor, jobs for young people, which explains our School Feeding Programme, providing a meal per day to over nine million pupils in 25 states today.

    “Our N-Power is now employing 500, 000 graduates; our TraderMoni that will be giving microcredit to two million petty traders; our Conditional Cash Transfers giving monthly grants to over 400,000 of the poorest in Nigeria.

    ” The plan is to cover over a million households.”

    He said that in arguing for good governance, Nigeria’s greatest problem was grand corruption.

    The vice president described corruption as the unbelievable looting of the treasury by simply making huge cash withdrawals in local and foreign currencies–a travesty which President Muhammadu Buhari stopped.

    According to him, the restructuring Nigeria needs is the restructuring of governance in such manner as to eliminate corruption and create an enabling environment for growth and investments in infrastructure, education, nutrition and better sanitation.

    Earlier in his address, Alhaji Oluropo Owolabi, said that the topic of the lecture could not have come at a better time.

    He said that in recent times, restructuring had dominated the nation’s political discourse; hence the choice of the vice president, a professor of law for the lecture.

    Owolabi said that the association was borne out of a vision of some young men, eight of them who decided in 1978 to concretise their fledging relationship and dominance of social space into a sustainable institution.

  • Group kicks against state police

    Group kicks against state police

    The Southern Nigeria Peoples Mandate (SNPM), a political group, has kicked against state police as supported by both the Senate and House of Representative in their different chambers on July I2.

    “What the state governments should do is to support the central (federal-funded) police with equipment to fight crime,’’ President of the group, Mr Augustine Chukwudum, told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Enugu.

    Chukwudum was reacting to the clamour for state police by some state governors, which got the support of members of the National Assembly.

    “How can state governors, who cannot pay workers’ salary, be calling for additional work force (state police force) while the civil servants under some of them are being owed between eight and 12 months’ salary including pension.’’

    He alleged that the members of the National Assembly had lost focus of what Nigerians sent them to do in the red and green chambers.

    “Nigerians must wake up from their slumber and ask the state governors what they are doing with the money they collect every month as security vote.

    “Because we know that the 36 state governors collect more than N60billion yearly as security vote.

    “We demand that the National Assembly shall not include state police in our Constitution as championed by some outspoken lawmakers because the likely result will not bring succour to the masses.

    “Everybody knows that these governors will use it to fight their perceived and imaginary political opponents and enemies,’’ he said.

    Chukwudum noted that it would be better for Nigeria to remain with one central police with full financial assistance from state governments and corporate bodies.

    “We can assure everybody that with this type of co-operation, our country will be secured.

    “Those clamouring for state police should forget it because it will not be beneficial to the ordinary people of our country, so we must not allow it to happen,’’ Chukwudum said.

     

  • Pay workers’ salaries before attempting to establish state police – TI tells debtor governors

    The Transparency International (TI) has advised states owing its workforce to clear the backlog befire attempting establishment of the proposed state police.

    The Head of TI Nigeria, Musa Rafsanjani, who stated this on Sunday, said as good as the objectives of state police were, state governments must first be able to pay workers’ salaries, provide health care, manage primary and secondary education as well as other basics of human life, before the police institution could be committed to them.

    The Senate and the House of Representatives had last week Tuesday expressed their readiness to amend the constitution to make the state police legal in order to contain persistent killings in the country, declaring the country’s security system as a failed architecture.

    The House of Representatives had thereafter passed a resolution backing the establishment of the state police.

    The Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, had received a bill seeking to amend the 1999 Constitution to accommodate state police.

    The Kwara, Abia, Osun, Ondo and Ogun state Houses of Assembly had also backed the National Assembly’s decision to initiate moves aimed at the creation of the state police, which was to stem the escalating killings in the country.

    But the TI Head, Rafsanjani, said on Sunday in an interview with our correspondent, that many state governments were presently unable to finance the state police, as they were still owing workers’ salaries and failing in primary education and health care.

    He added, “Secondly, in view of the actions of the state governments, most governors can personalise the state police and use them as an instrument to oppress perceived opponents. So, we have to be very circumspect while putting the state police in our constitution. The state police should be some idea in our long-term, which will manifest when we are more mature in our political process. But presently, I am not sure the states are ready to take on the responsibility of the state police. I rather advocate that the way to improve security should be a proper financing of the police.”

     

  • NASS backs state police as gunmen kill 7 cops in Abuja

    The Senate and the House of Representatives on Tuesday declared the country’s security system a “failed architecture” and backed the call for the establishment of state police to contain the escalating killings by herdsmen across many states.

    The lawmakers’ decision to grant the request of many prominent Nigerians including governors for state police is hinged on the continued killings in the country and the inability of the security agencies to end incessant violence and murders.

    The two chambers of the National Assembly have, therefore, agreed to amend the constitution to achieve this objective.

    This is coming just as seven policemen were shot dead by unknown gunmen in Abuja on Monday night.

    To achieve the state police structure, the House resolved to revisit the amendment of the 1999 Constitution so that the present federal police structure would be decentralised, while the Senate has begun the process to amend the constitution to allow for the creation of state police.

    Specifically, the Senate at the plenary on Tuesday mandated the Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution led by the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, to present an amendment bill within two weeks.

    The lawmakers resolved that the bill would enjoy speedy consideration.

    Also, the House of Representatives declared the country’s security system a “failed architecture” and sought the establishment of state police to contain the escalating killings by herdsmen across many states.

    Lawmakers specifically declared the recent killing of “over 215 persons” by herdsmen in Plateau State as “genocide,” saying that it was high time the Federal Government sought external help to confront the killer herdsmen.

    Recall that on three previous attempts since the 2010, a proposal for state police was rejected by the National Assembly during the amendment of the constitution.

    But, as the reality of the lives being taken by the herdsmen dawned on members on Tuesday, the majority of them supported a resolution to amend the constitution in a bid to accommodate state police.

    The House passed the resolution after five members from Plateau State moved a motion on the “Massacre of over 2015 Persons in Plateau State.”

    The session, which was presided over by the Speaker, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, condemned the attacks and called for the recovery of over 52 villages under illegal occupation by herdsmen in Barkin Ladi, Riyom, Bokkos, Bassa and Mangu Local Government Areas of Plateau State.

    Leading the debate, Mr. Istifanus Gyang alleged that the agenda of the attackers was ethnic cleansing to pave the way for the occupation of land belonging to the Plateau people.

    Gyang urged President Muhammadu Buhari to give effect to Section 14(2) of the constitution by protecting the lives and property of Nigerians.

    He added, “The attacks have a pattern, where once a community is attacked, it is cleansed by killing the native inhabitants, the houses burnt and destroyed, while the vacated land is taken over for occupation.

    “The cycle is repeated and the pattern is replicated in what has clearly manifested as a land grabbing agenda.”

    The Majority Leader of the House, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, supported the motion and said that the country could no longer run away from the reality of state police.

    He stated, “Our security architecture needs to be changed and the time has come for the creation of state police. Let us amend our constitution; we can even agree to fast-track it by attaching it to the pending Petroleum Industry Bill for presentation to the President.”

    The Chairman, House Committee on Human Rights, Mr. Edward Pwajok, SAN, recalled how the herdsmen attacked 11 villages simultaneously without response from security agencies.

    Pwajok said, “These attacks took place for over seven hours in the 11 villages. The fact that there was no response leaves much to be desired and raises many questions. Why will the attacks continue, even as we speak, in spite of the visit of the President and Vice-President and the curfew in Plateau State?

    “Was the curfew meant to keep some persons at home while others could go about freely to kill? Mr. Speaker, the blood of those killed is calling for justice.”

    On her part, the Chairman, House Committee on Foreign Relations, Ms. Nnenna Elendu-Ukeje, urged Buhari to take urgent actions to stop the killings.

    She acknowledged that there were two categories of Fulani in Nigeria, the peaceful ones carrying sticks and the killers who go about with AK-47 rifles.