By Naomi Sharang
Al The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) on Tuesday advocated for creation of state and community police to tackle insecurity in the country.
The forum’s position is contained in a communique issued after its general meeting held in Abuja.
In the communique read by
the Leader of Afenifere and current Chairman of the forum, Oba Oladipo Olaitan, the forum called for amendment of the constitution to allow creation of state and community police.
“This is as now ably canvassed by President Bola Tinubu. We must have state police now.
“The forum as well as Nigerians at large are alarmed at the renewed unabated state of insecurity in the nation.
“The forum reiterates our confidence in the Nigerian armed forces and other security institutions, and their capacities to protect life and property of Nigerians and her territorial integrity.
“The situation is so worrisome as more than 70 per cent of the national territorial space is ungoverned and unmanned by security personnel.
“It cannot be over-emphasised that security thrives on intelligence, which is naturally local.
“There is no gainsaying the fact that the strength of officers under arm, particularly in terms of numbers, is not commensurate with the enormity of the problem.
“As a way of going forward, the SMBLF urges government to bring to an immediate end the so-called re-integration of deradicalised terrorists.
“We are pleased to let the nation know of a 12-member committee of security experts to make our contributions to the constitutional modalities of state and community police,” the communique stated.
The forum called on all political parties to zone the position of the president to the South in the interest of national political stability.
It noted that such zoning arrangement had been the trend and that it had emerged as part of the national democratic culture since 1999.
The forum also insisted on the restructuring of the country to give the federating ethnic nationalities and constituent states the required autonomy.
“This is in tandem with true federalism on which Nigeria was built by our founding fathers,” it said.
NAN reports that the meeting brought together major regional blocs, including Afenifere, Middle Belt Forum and Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.
NAN also reports that the meeting was also attended by Leader of PANDEF, Dr Godknows Igali, President of Middle Belt Forum, Dr Bitrus Pogu and President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide Sen. John Azuta-Mbata.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
NNL/WAS
Edited by ‘Wale Sadeeq
