4th Sunday Adewusi memorial lecture: Police scholar makes strong case for state police
Femi OGUNLANA
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As panacea to the pervasive insecurity tearing Nigeria into pieces, a scholar on policing, Professor Amos Oyesoji Aremu, has advocated the establishment of state police.
Speaking on the topic, “Failure of internal security: Dissecting the historical and systemic dysfunctionality of the Nigeria Police Force,” at the fourth memorial lecture biennially organized by Ogbomoso Community Foundation (OCF), in honour of late Chief Sunday Adewusi, Nigeria’s fifth Inspector General of Police, Saturday, at the Ogbomoso Recreation Club, Prof Aremu noted that introducing state police has become imperative to curtail internal security challenges in the country, asserting the constitution needs to be tinkered with to accommodate the model.
Prof Aremu, of the Department of Counseling and Human Development Studies, University of Ibadan, a long-standing police scholar, after examining the various challenges faced by the Nigeria Police which he noted started with its faulty foundation as “a tool of oppression and repression” against the people, asserted, “The Nigeria Police Force has come a long way being the oldest security agency in Nigeria. In this lecture therefore, the challenges confronting the agency are not only interrogated, l pontificated this within the ambit of what the agency should be to make the public accept the functions and roles of the agency especially amidst series of internal security challenges confronting the country.
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“It is logically presented in the lecture that overcoming the challenges of internal security would require deconstruction of the Nigeria Police agency for effectiveness. On this, it is recommended that the Nigeria Police Force as presently constituted need to be dismembered with a view to accommodating sub-national policing structure in the Nigerian constitution.”
He lamented that terrorism that is now prevalent in Nigeria has left “approximately 700, 000 people dead and 2.5 million individuals displaced,” while calling for a holistic approach to improving security architecture through recruiting of more personnel as well as making strenuous efforts to overcoming other challenges facing the force.
The don who supported the call for the establishment of the Sunday Adewusi Centre for Police Studies at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, alluded to the large expanse of “ungoverned spaces in Nigeria” maintaining this promotes terrorism. “There are many of these ungoverned spaces which are not only havens to criminals and bandits, but where violence and banditry have been regularly unleashed on innocent people.” These ungoverned spaces according to him include forests, reserves and so on occupied by bandits and terrorists.
He further argued, “The monopoly of national security by the Nigeria Police Force is no longer justifiable amidst the increasing insecurity in the country,” adding, “The desire for ‘sub-national’ police is long overdue as more states have well established security outfits as Amotekun and Hisba corps in the nation’s southwest and Kano state, respectively.”
He observed the call for state police has become consistent noting it’s now coming from different quarters including the governors of the northern states, scholars on police matters, and other stakeholders. He also recalled that the administration of President Bola Tinubu during an emergency meeting on security with the 36 state governors in February 2024, equally interrogated the model, wondering why the political leaders are still dilly-dallying on its establishment as he emphasized Nigeria is under-policed in view of the number of personnel available.
He charged the police to improve its public acceptability to enhance cooperation by being truly friendly and eschewing corruption affirming this in the spirit of community policing.
He also called for improved funding of the police, training and capacity building, increased welfare, accountability and transparency and adoption of technology and innovation among others.
Prof Aremu who disclosed his mother hailed from Ogbomoso eulogized late Chief Adewusi describing him as one of the best IGs Nigeria ever had.
He stressed the tenure of Adewusi was very impactful while reeling out some of his achievements including the establishment of the Mobile Police Force (the dreaded Mopol), modernization of police equipment, improvement in police officers’ welfare and discipline.
Many who made commentaries, while commending the guest speaker, supported the call for state police, community policing and saddling traditional rulers with roles in preventing and combating crimes in their domains.
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Alaaje of Aaje Ologo HRH Reuben Adesina Amao, a retired Assistant Director General of Department of State Services (DSS), further harped on the significance of the public being vigilant and ready to give information to security agencies, submitting this is an effective antidote against security breaches, just as he canvassed roles for the traditional institution in this regard.
Some dignitaries at the event are Gen Oladayo Popoola (rtd) (former military governor of Oyo and Ogun states); Rear Admiral Jacob Ajani (rtd); Prof Ayodeji Omole (Chairman Governing Council LAUTECH); Prof ROM Kalilu (LAUTECH Vice Chancellor); Dr Saka Balogun, and Justice Afolabi Adeniran (rtd).
HRM Oba Samuel Babarunde Amao (Aale of Okelerin); High Chief Yusuf Oladipupo (Abese of Ogbomosoland); HRH Reuben Adesina Amao (Alaaje of Aaje Ologo); Dr Amos Adamu (former Director General National Sports Commission); Dr Samson Adegoke Megida are among other dignitaries at the occasion. The family of late Adewusi was also well represented including one of his sons, Mr. Niyi Adewusi, who expressed profound appreciation of the family.
Next edition of the lecture is expected to hold in 2027.
Chief Adewusi who was conferred with the significant title of Asiwaju of Ogbomosoland in October 2003 by late Oba Oladunni Oyewumi Ajagungbade III, the Soun of Ogbomosoland, passed away on January 26, 2016, at the National Hospital, Abuja, at the age of 79.
An illustrious son of Ogbomoso, he is considered a national icon.
Photos of the event below:
