Lagos Assembly writes Presidency, N’Assembly on need for state police

• Recommends 15 to 21 years jail term for cultism
The Lagos State House of Assembly has directed its Acting Clerk, Mr. Olalekan Onafekan, to write President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Assembly on the resolution that Nigeria must begin, without any delay, the process of amending the 1999 Constitution to include state police.

The Assembly reiterated that state police remains the best approach to address escalating crime rate across the country, just as it emphasised that the recently-constituted community policing could not replace state police and neither could it eradicate criminalities in the country.

Making the resolution during its plenary, yesterday, the Assembly also passed a bill into law, which recommends 21-year imprisonment for anyone found guilty of engaging in cult activities.

The law also stipulates a 15-year jail term for anyone convicted of abetting cultists or who allows his/her premises to be used by cultists as a meeting place.

The motion to the effect of a state police was moved by the Speaker, Mr. Mudashiru Obasa, which was unanimously supported by other legislators present through a voice-vote.

Obasa said: “I have noticed an increase in the number of calls for state police. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo also joined those requesting for state police. It gladdens my heart I was just smiling when I read it on the pages of newspapers.

“This Assembly has always been in the forefront of calls for state police right from the Fourth Assembly. This House is always right on target and always at the truth.

“We are not going to stop until we have a constitution that talks about federalism to have state police.”