Security experts have warned that the establishment of state police may not end kidnapping, banditry and other security threats in Ondo State or any part of the country without adequate funding, modern equipment and improved welfare for personnel.
The warning followed the Ondo State House of Assembly approval of a proposed constitutional amendment to establish state police. The Assembly passed the bill on Monday, citing the need to tackle insecurity, protect farmers and strengthen crime prevention at the grassroots.
A retired commissioner of police, Samuel Adetunji, said the effectiveness of state police would depend on how the law was implemented and the willingness of the government and residents to support the proposed arrangement.
“Policing is about the people. It is not about any institution or arrangement. People must ensure that the police are allowed to do their job, and that includes the government,” he said.
Similarly, Femi Joseph, a retired police officer, said inadequate funding, obsolete investigative methods and poor welfare had weakened the capacity of security agencies to tackle kidnapping and other crimes.
Joseph called for modern surveillance equipment, including drones and helicopters, to help security personnel track kidnappers, monitor criminal hideouts and coordinate rescue operations.
He argued that officers should not be expected to search vast forest areas on foot without the technological support required to locate criminals and rescue victims safely.
Joseph also identified poor salaries, inadequate insurance and unsatisfactory retirement benefits as factors affecting officers’ morale, urging governments to improve their welfare alongside the provision of operational equipment.
“There is nothing wrong with establishing state police. However, creating state police without adequately equipping them will not solve the problem,” he said.
He added that the commitment of political leaders to provide sustained funding would determine whether the proposed reform could deliver meaningful results.
Meanwhile, the Ondo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Olukayode Ajulo, SAN, described the Assembly’s approval as an important step towards a more responsive policing system.
Ajulo said the proposal still had to pass through the constitutional amendment process before state police could be established, including approval by at least two-thirds of the 36 State Houses of Assembly, the required National Assembly procedures and presidential assent.
He stressed that the eventual framework must provide for adequate funding, professional standards and effective oversight while protecting state police from political interference and abuse of power.