Itse Sagay Advocates for State Police in Nigeria

Itse Sagay, a legal scholar and former chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, has called for the urgent establishment of state police in Nigeria to address the country's escalating insecurity crisis. In an interview with Aris TV on Friday, Sagay noted that Nigeria has long relied solely on a federal police system, which struggles to respond effectively to criminal attacks.

He argued that allowing state authorities to operate their own police forces would enable quicker and more efficient security responses. Sagay emphasized that state police could better tackle issues such as banditry and murder, providing a firmer guarantee of safety for Nigerians.

He acknowledged the historical opposition from northern politicians to the idea of state police but expressed optimism about President Buhari's willingness to support this initiative. Sagay also highlighted the potential for state revenue to fund these forces and recommended that state governors serve as chief security officers.

He cautioned about the risks of abuse of power and the need for civil society to check such abuses, while advocating for modern technology to enhance policing capabilities.