By Gift ChapiOdekina, Abuja

Socio-cultural groups under the aegis of Ethnic youth leaders across the country have commended the Inspector General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu for his steps towards tackling security challenges in the country within few days in office.

In a joint statement issued by their Deputy Spokesperson, Mirabel Ashara, the youth leaders particularly hailed IGP Disu for moving to break the jinx of establishing state police.

According to them, the inauguration of a high-level Steering Committee on the Establishment of State Police by the new police boss showed he is committed to reinforcing Nigeria’s internal security architecture and advancing community-oriented policing.

They said the composition of the Steering Committee chaired by Olu Ogunsakin, Director-General of the National Institute for Police Studies, Jabi, Abuja with other members including Bode Ojajuni (Secretary), Okebechi Agora, Suleyman Gulma, Ikechukwu Okafor, Tolulope Ipinmisho and CP Emmanuel Ojukwu (Rtd), Provost of the Police Public Relations School depicted the seriousness attached to the plan.

“We commend the new Inspector General of Police, IGP IGP Olatunji Disu for taking the bulls by the horns to wholistically address security challenges in the country.

“One of his first right steps in the right direction is inauguration of a high-level Steering Committee on the Establishment of State Police.

“The composition of the committee chaired by Olu Ogunsakin, Director-General of the National Institute for Police Studies, Jabi, Abuja with Bode Ojajuni as Secretary; Okebechi Agora, Suleyman Gulma, Ikechukwu Okafor, Tolulope Ipinmisho and Emmanuel Ojukwu (Rtd), Provost of the Police Public Relations School as members attested to its seriousness.

“As the IGP noted during the inauguration, the panel is expected to design a workable framework through which State Police could operate in a manner that complements and reinforces the existing national security system.

“Its terms of reference include studying policing systems within Nigeria and internationally, assessing community security needs and emerging threats, and recommending an operational blueprint for State Police formations.

“The committee will also examine recruitment standards, training frameworks, funding models, resource management structures and oversight safeguards necessary to sustain accountability and public confidence.

“He was also clear that the reform proposal is not intended to supplant or weaken the constitutional mandate of the Nigeria Police Force. Rather, the IGP described State Policing as a complementary structure within a harmonised national security framework; a model of synergy, not competition; partnership, not duplication.”