Borno State governor Babagana Zulum has talked down on setting up of states-controlled policing, arguing that governors like him would use it to promote tribal sentiments.

“Nigeria is not mature for state police. Some state governors can use it to wipe away other tribes apart from their tribes,” Mr Zulum said amid clamour for the establishment of homegrown policing to tackle soaring insecurity around the country.

The governor states this position during a lecture entitled ‘Ungoverned Space and Insecurity in the Sahelian Region: Implications for Nigeria Domestic Peace and Security at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Plateau State on Wednesday.

Lawmakers, socio-political organisations, and state governors have over time called for the creation of state police to address the current security challenges in Nigeria.

But the governor whose state is among the worst-hit by raging insecurity caused by Boko Haram insurgency said decentralising the police comes with serious implications as ethnic contention were still rife in the nation.

“Honestly speaking, I, Babagana Zulum, will not support it, not because I don’t like it, but because of the implications,” he maintained.

“So, we have to be very careful. If half of the power given to the Nigeria Army, police, and others are given to state police, Nigeria will be in problem,” he said.

Mr Zulum expressed worries that recruitments into Nigeria’s security agencies have been politicised with the absence of dedication and commitment.

“These days, governors, ministers, and other top government functionaries have slots. Nobody is to interview them whether they are qualified or not. Admission into the Nigerian Army, police, and others are now politicised.

“Unless we get it right, nothing will happen in this country. If we want to make progress, we must ensure that we pick the best. If not, we shall continue to recruit the dull ones. We must engage those that can deliver because we have a lot of competent Nigerians,” he added.