Insecurity: APC stalwart, Bayala tasks FG on State, LGA policing

A chieftain of All Progressives Congress, APC in Katsina State, Faisal Yunusa Bayala, has called for an urgent legislative framework for the establishment of a State and Local Government Police system to end the menace of worsening insecurity.

The APC stalwart, in a statement on Saturday, said the creation of State and LGA Police had become the only solution to preventing the proliferation and rising of ethnic militias in the country.

He said it is foolhardy to expect leaders in the States and Local Governments to fold their hands while their people are being butchered, killed, kidnapped and gang raped.

“The puerile argument that States and Local Governments Police will lead to political abuse is becoming increasingly ridiculous given that, bandits, kidnappers, rapists, etc, already abuse the people every day on a mass scale due to the absence of local policing.

Bayala maintained that political abuse of local policing can be prevented through a clear authorising legislation that completely prevents local police from election duties, jurisdiction over rallies and public assembly, worship and other activities associated with the exercise of freedom of assembly, and speech and worship.

He suggested that State and LGA Police, their duty and services can be limited to the protection of life, property and prevention of crimes, saying, that was the practice before and immediately after independence in the ’60s and there was no abuse.

” To tame the rise of ethnic militias, which are also prone to great abuse, State and Local government policing is long overdue.

“They should also be funded by monthly security tax to be capped by a Federal Legislation. Self-defence is a natural right since the central security system seems to be incapable of offering protection to our communities.”