Donald Duke Canvasses State, Local Govt Police, Says Centralised System Has Failed

Former Cross River State governor and presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Donald Duke, has advocated for decentralising policing and establishing state and local government police forces. Duke contends that Nigeria's centralized security system has not effectively combated terrorism, kidnapping, banditry, and other crimes.

He argues that communities possess better knowledge of local suspicious activities and emerging threats, making them ideal for intelligence gathering. Decentralisation is crucial, with the judiciary providing oversight to prevent abuse, Duke emphasizes. The former governor criticizes the lack of substantial security architecture updates since Nigeria's Civil War in 1970, asserting that essential security functions should be localised.

Duke supports the concept of state and local government police, provided stringent guidelines are set to prevent misuse, similar to the National Guard in the United States. In addition to policing, Duke attributes the proliferation of terrorism, kidnapping, and banditry to poverty and the absence of legitimate economic opportunities, particularly in impoverished communities where young people have limited access to productive livelihoods.

He cautions that the financial gains from crime can make it challenging to deter individuals from illicit activities. Duke stresses that a stable country requires a safe and orderly environment alongside economic productivity, emphasizing the government's role in fostering such an environment.