The Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin, Thursday, said recruitment into the proposed state police system will be based strictly on merit, with prospective officers undergoing thorough background checks and meeting minimum educational requirements.
Barau stated this during an interview on the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), where he spoke in Hausa on the proposed establishment of state police as part of efforts to tackle insecurity across the country.
He said the proposed security outfit would not be a dumping ground, adding that only qualified and credible individuals would be recruited.
“There are criteria for the selection of state police officers. We will thoroughly verify applicants’ backgrounds, and they must be educated,” he said.
He noted that insecurity has affected virtually every Nigerian family, saying banditry, kidnapping and other criminal activities have disrupted farming, businesses and other sectors of the economy.
He said the establishment of state police would strengthen efforts to combat criminality, restore public confidence and improve security across communities.
“If state police are in place, it will help restore sanity and allow free movement of people as well as economic activities,” he said.
Barau urged citizens and other stakeholders to support security agencies by volunteering useful information, describing the fight against insecurity as a collective responsibility.
“Everyone who sees something should speak up and not remain silent. Ending banditry is the responsibility of all stakeholders,” he added.
Responding to concerns over whether all states could afford to fund state police, the Deputy Senate President said the proposed legal framework could allow states to decide whether to establish their own police services.