Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), says Nigeria does not have the institutional capacity for state policing.

The creation of state police has been on the front burner for years now, with many governors advocating for its implementation to enhance security within their domains.

Last year, Uba Sani, governor of Kaduna, announced that all 36 state governments had submitted their reports backing the creation of state police.

He said state policing would serve as a crucial step towards improving security across the country.

Speaking during a media chat on Sunday, Wike said the adoption of state or community policing would birth autocratic governors in several states.

“In Nigeria, what system do we run? Is Abuja different from Nigeria when you talk about the police? People have been recommending community policing and state police,” he said.

“Knowing where we are, and where we are from, if you allow that, so many people would not come out of their houses. So, I said let’s try it first and see how it works.

“But so many people said there’s no need to try, that we have seen that if they allow state policing today, nobody would oppose any state governor. It is either you would die for murder or for armed robbery. Our institutions are not such that are independent.”

The former governor said his previous support for state police does not necessarily mean it is still the right decision today.

“The mere fact that I supported state police [when I was governor], if I was wrong, I was wrong. If I was right, I was right,” he said.

“What we are saying is that our institutions are not strong to be independent of manipulation by the system.”

During his first term as governor, Wike assented to a bill establishing the neighbourhood safety corps.

Some of the functions of the corps included the detection of crime, arrest of offenders with or without a warrant, and bearing arms in the performance of their duties, among others.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has confirmed the killing of Aminu Salisu, an assistant superintendent officer (ASO), in Anambra.

Salisu was allegedly killed by Joshua Ikechukwu, a suspected internet fraudster, during an arrest operation in Anambra on Friday.

In a statement on Sunday, Dele Oyewale, the EFCC spokesperson, said the late officer was killed while discharging a legitimate duty.

Oyewale said the suspect, who spotted investigators via closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras mounted at his doorstep, refused to open his door despite their “polite request for entrance.”

“Aminu Sahabi Salisu, assistant superintendent of the EFCC, alongside other investigators of the EFCC, were at Dr. J.O. Ukwutinife Close, Ifite, Awka, Anambra State, to arrest some suspected internet fraudsters in the early hours of January 17,” the statement said.

“The operation was duly documented at the Anambra state command headquarters and area command of the Nigeria Police in line with operational protocols.

“The operation was initially smooth sailing with 37 suspected internet fraudsters already arrested at a two-storey building housing Ikechukwu and other occupants of the house.

“However, Joshua Ikechukwu, who sighted the investigators through a CCTV camera mounted at his doorpost and who also confessed sighting them, declined to open his door for the investigators, who politely demanded entrance to his apartment.

“Defying all the introduction and physical sighting of the investigators, he resorted to firing shots at them and killed Salisu in the process and wounded another officer detailed to conduct a search in his apartment.”

The EFCC spokesperson said preliminary investigations showed that Ikechukwu was involved in coding and online medical supplies of doubtful legitimacy.

He said two laptops, iPads, and several recording devices were recovered from his apartment, adding that though currently in police custody, the commission would bring him to trial.

Oyewale said the commission “viewed with concern irresponsible narratives on the fatal accident and faceless commentators supporting an alleged criminal”.

He added that the anti-graft agency also commiserated with the family of the slain officer and appreciated support from sister agencies and well-meaning individuals.

“It is heinous to reduce the death of a gallant officer who was carrying out patriotic and official duties to social media razzmatazz,” he said.

“More worrisome is the fact that some faceless commentators are pitching their tents with an alleged criminal who unleashed terror on officers of the EFCC in their line of duty.

“There is no justification whatsoever to rationalise a murderous act. The milk of human kindness demands that a grieving family, commission, and nation should be spared the shenanigans of false narratives and conjectures on the death of the slain officer.

“The EFCC also wishes to alert the public that the activities of internet fraudsters are becoming patently hazardous to public safety and security.

“Intelligence has shown that these criminals are carrying arms and are involved in kidnapping, banditry, ritual killings, and other deadly acts.

“The public should not fold its arms or allow itself to be deceived that they are mere ‘Yahoo boys and girls”.

“As for the EFCC, every subsequent attack on any of its officers will be met with the force of the law. The Commission will not fold its arms and allow any of its officers to be killed again in cold blood.

“As a law enforcement agency of repute, the EFCC is unrelenting in ridding the nation of internet fraud and other acts of corruption.

“While mourning the loss of its officer who paid the supreme price in the service of the nation, the Commission appreciates the invaluable support, condolences, and prompt response of sister agencies and well-meaning individuals standing shoulder to shoulder with it at this trying time.”

A middle-aged man, Tartor Ayihe has reportedly committed suicide after allegedly selling a plot of land to three different buyers at Ayihe village, Makurdi Local Government Area, LGA, of Benue State.

The deceased was reported to have drank a poisonous substance believed to be a snipper to take his own life.

Narrating the incident, a source in the community who preferred anonymity said the deceased took his own life Wednesday evening after he was asked by the community leaders to give a detailed account of how he sold the piece of land to three different buyers.

According to the witness, “After it was discovered that he sold a piece of family land to three different buyers, the matter was reported to the Kindred Head by those he deceived into buying the land.

“He was summoned to the home of the Kindred Head alongside the buyers. They all assembled for the matter to be addressed. But he suddenly left the meeting venue in the pretence that he wanted to pick something from his residence.

“We later heard that he rather went to provision stores to purchase poisonous chemicals believed to be snippers which he took home and drank, after switching off the phone.

“And after waiting for him for about an hour, people were sent to go and bring him back to the venue. But on getting to his home he was discovered motionless and empty bottles of the chemical he consumed littered the place. He was immediately rushed to the hospital but was already dead at the time of getting to the hospital.”

Contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent, CSP, Catherine Anene who confirmed the incident said, “Our operatives have been sent there to find out what happened.”