IPCR DG backs state police, calls for safeguards against abuse

The Director-General of the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, Dr Joseph Ochogwu, has advocated for state policing to address farmer-herder conflicts and rural banditry in Nigeria. While acknowledging the potential benefits of decentralised policing, such as improved intelligence gathering, community engagement, and reduced response time, Ochogwu warned against the risks of political interference, human rights abuses, and the persecution of minority groups.

He emphasized the need for professional standards, adequate funding, and effective oversight to ensure that state policing initiatives do not exacerbate existing inequalities or deepen community grievances.

Brief written by urgent.news from Punch Nigeria's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.