THERE had been no serious call for states to have their own police force until the advent of the dreaded Boko Haram Islamic sect, which is ravaging the northern parts of the country. Boko Haram is faceless and operates in its own queer way. Their method is far removed from the usual conventional military warfare where the two opposing combatants know each other and plan ahead to outsmart each other whenever they meet on the battlefield. The military and other security agencies are finding it extremely difficult to combat the menace.One disadvantage for security operatives is that they are centralised, brought from far-flung bases to dangerous and unfamiliar terrains. In this circumstance, there are bound to be tactical errors. There are failings because the terrorists had been on ground, surveying and getting acquainted.It is on this note that the 36 state governors unanimously agreed, to support the creation of state police. However, the Northern Governors' Forum seems to have chickened out, saying that the decision was no longer binding on them.Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang sees this move as a betrayal by northern governors and was quick to distance himself, while still standing by the resolution of the Governors' Forum.Before now, Jang had on many occasions called for states to run their own police as it is only the indigenes that will be recruited into the force, since they already know the nooks and crannies of the states. According to him, they know the hoodlums and are more knowledgeable to track them down with little effort.When the delegation of the House of Representatives paid him a condolence visit over the death of Senator Gyang Dantong and the State House of Assembly Majority Leader, Gyang Fulani, who all died at the funeral procession of those who were previously massacred by assailants, Jang stressed the need for state police.Before this time, Jang had bemoaned the unfortunate constitutional provision, which paradoxically recognised him as the chief security officer of the state, but cannot command the police or the military in his state, not even command Boys' Scouts.He said, 'during crisis, if I contact the police commissioner, he will say he has not got directive from the Inspector General of Police from Abuja. If I contact the General Officer Commanding (GOC) the 3 Armoured Division in Jos, he will tell me that soldiers can only be called out to the streets if there is such order from the Defence Headquarters or the Presidency all in Abuja. By the time directives would come, many lives would have gone.'Each time Jang hosts visitors from Abuja, he repeatedly demands for state police. Perhaps, it is a question of who feels it, knowing it.Public affairs commentators are of the views that some security personnel drafted from outside to crisis areas are usually biased, letting their loyalty to be clouded by their religions and not their professional calling, thereby creating more damage and worsening the situation.
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