State Police needed urgently to combat insecurity – Retired AIG

A security expert and Assistant Inspector-General of Police (Rtd), AIG Tunde Ogunshakin has emphasized the urgent need for the establishment of state police to effectively combat rising insecurity across Nigeria.

Addressing concerns about potential misuse of state police by state governments, the expert argued that involving the community in policing would bring law enforcement closer to the people and enhance security.

He highlighted the necessity of intelligence-driven policing and the revival of the Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) to strengthen crime-fighting efforts at the state level.

In a recent interview with The Guardian, AIag Tunde Ogunsakin, now Managing Director and CEO of First Security Information, emphasized the urgent need for the establishment of state police in Nigeria to combat insecurity effectively.

Ogunsakin dismissed concerns that state governments would misuse state police as defeatist, asserting that community involvement in policing is essential for bringing law enforcement closer to the people.

“State police should have been implemented already,” Ogunsakin stated. “Claiming that state governments will misuse the state police is unfounded. To defeat insecurity, we need state police as soon as possible. We cannot continue to claim we are not ready for it. Community involvement in policing will bring police to the doorstep of Nigerians.”

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Ogunsakin advocated for the revival of the Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) and suggested that 50% of the state Criminal Investigation Department (CID) staff should focus on intelligence work.

“Police posts, divisions, and stations are widespread, but we need officers in the CIDs to work on intelligence. These officers, living among the community, should gather information to assist in operations,” he explained.

Recalling a successful raid he undertook while serving in the notorious Oluwole market located at the central area of Lagos, Ogunsakin highlighted the importance of intelligence in policing.

“We spent three or four days gathering intelligence before the raid. Knowing the processes of those forging VIP signatures and international passports allowed us to complete the operation in 35-40 minutes without firing teargas or ammunition. Intelligence is crucial for effective crime-fighting”, he asserted.

Ogunsakin also commented on the federal government’s establishment of a Ministry of Livestock to address farmers-herders clashes, calling it a positive step.

However, he suggested additional measures, such as creating a department within the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) to collaborate with the ministry and establishing associations like forest rangers to manage resources and mitigate conflicts.

“Encouraging ranches will benefit both farmers and herders, producing better meat and reducing competition for water and food,” he added.

Emphasizing national unity, Ogunsakin urged Nigerians to de-emphasize ethnicity and religion. “We must see ourselves as one nation. Ethnic and religious stigmatization hinders progress. If someone has lived in a place for ten to fifteen years, they should be considered a local. Just as Nigerians receive green cards and become nationals in Europe, we must de-emphasize state origin here. Developing nationhood is critical for our progress,” he concluded.