Okiro Blames Government for Nigeria's Rising Insecurity

On Tuesday, former Inspector-General of Police Mike Okiro (retd.) accused the Federal Government of contributing to Nigeria's worsening insecurity by failing to adequately equip the Nigeria Police Force. Speaking at the First Daily National Dialogue on Security in Abuja, Okiro stated that the government had deliberately disarmed the police, undermining their ability to tackle crime effectively.

He emphasized the need for modern equipment, communication gadgets, and operational tools, noting that the police could no longer rely solely on batons. Okiro also pointed out the shortage of police personnel due to a lack of recruitment over five years, during which the police lost 59,730 personnel to retirements, deaths, and other causes without replacements.

He criticized the bureaucratic delays in intelligence sharing among security agencies, which hinder timely responses to criminal activities. Additionally, former Chief of Defence Staff Gen.

Lucky Irabor (retd.) raised concerns about Nigeria's defense spending, indicating that a significant portion is allocated to personnel costs, leaving insufficient funds for military equipment and modernization.