The chief judge of Taraba State, Joel Agya, on Saturday commended President Bola Tinubu for taking steps towards establishing state police in Nigeria.

Mr Agya gave support while speaking in Wukari at a dinner and launch for the Justice Joel Agya Bar Centre Project, organised by the Wukari branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

He said the issue of state police was crucial given the spate of criminality in the country.

“The state police would employ indigenes to police their localities rather than deploying people who might not be conversant with local terrains.

“I want to believe that this policy will go a long way in maintaining law and order within local communities.

“What we are concerned about is for the institution to operate within the ambit of the law,” he stated.

He commended the NBA leadership for the Law Week and encouraged the guests at the dinner to donate generously for the construction of the NBA secretariat complex.

In his remarks, Hassan Saubana, the chairman of the branch, called on the judiciary to employ more judicial officers for the courts in the southern part of the state.

Mr Saubana observed that inadequate manpower posed a major challenge to the administration of justice in the area.

He commended the chief judge, high court judges, and other guests for taking their time to attend the event.

Mr Saubana gave assurances that work on the Justice Joel Agya NBA Secretariat complex would commence as soon as funds were made available.

The event marked the end of a two-day law week programme organised by the Wukari branch of the NBA.

(NAN)