Nigeria too complex for central policing – Ex-defence minister

Aliyu Gusau, a former Minister of Defense, expressed that securing a country as vast as Nigeria is a significant challenge for a single police force. Speaking during the graduation ceremony of the Zamfara State community protection guards in Gusau on Wednesday, Gusau highlighted the need to reconsider the nation's security strategy.

Gusau stated, "Nigeria, with an estimated population of 223.8 million and a diverse terrain covering 923,768 square kilometers, poses a considerable challenge for security. Therefore, expecting a single police force to effectively patrol and control such a large and complex nation is indeed a difficult task. It is time for us to rethink this strategy in the best interest of our country.

"Currently, innocent lives are lost daily due to terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery, organized crime, drug trafficking, human trafficking, and cultism prevailing in various parts of Nigeria. Despite the additional deployment of the military to hotspots, the desired results have not been achieved.

"However, for the strategy to succeed, strategic consideration should be given to creating appropriate support structures across the board. We must recognize that security is a community effort and the responsibility of all, not just the police or armed forces."