While the new state police organization is being developed, veteran Nollywood actress Clarion Chukwurah has urged President Bola Tinubu to implement emergency temporary security measures to address growing insecurity. Chukwurah praised the President for enabling the establishment of state police in an open letter posted on her Instagram page on Wednesday, calling the move a positive step.
“I applaud the fact that you once became a fugitive on behalf of democracy in Nigeria and your recent move to facilitate the creation of state police to combat insecurity in our country,” she wrote.
However, the actress pointed out that while instability necessitates swift action, it may take 1 to 2 years to organize and properly deploy state police nationwide, especially in rural areas.
"Sir, we know the process that will lead to its actual full-scale operations in every state will take at least one to two years, especially in extending its operations into the villages in the rural states where the activities of kidnappers are overwhelming and require an immediate, urgent solution," she wrote.
The actress claimed that political pressures, corruption, and widespread unemployment were undermining the government's efforts and that poverty and insecurity continue to be significant barriers to national progress.
"Unfortunately, your government is dealing with internal political pressure, external political meddling, and its own corrupt, dispassionate, and shadow-boxing ideas on the issue of combating widespread poverty due to mass unemployment, which is primarily responsible for growing crime in Nigeria," she stated.
She contended that many impoverished Nigerians do not understand the government's difficulties and often see it as the adversary.
“Sir, the average Nigerian living in poverty does not believe that you are the enemy, or understand that there are challenges your government has to face.
No matter how well-meaning your intentions are, there can be no real progress in the current situation of Nigeria, which is afflicted by poverty and insecurity due to the current economic crisis, which is why I have chosen to make this request," she continued.
Chukwurah advised the President to use a portion of the National Security Emergency Intervention Fund to support armed vigilante organizations that bolster community self-defense.
She said, "Mr. President, please direct the use of a portion of the billions of the National Security Emergency Intervention Fund to support community self-defense through vigilantes who are given the capacity to bear arms and protect their communities."
The actress denounced child kidnapping, calling kidnappers "cowards" for enslaving children in brutal jungle conditions.
"We know that only cowards kidnap children for money and keep a two-year-old in captivity in the forest to endure heat, mosquitoes, rainfall, and poor nutrition," she stated.
She further claimed that because abductors, local informants, and certain "complicit police officers" were aware that victims were frequently helpless, kidnapping had become more common.
The actress remarked, “Kidnapping has thrived in Nigeria because the kidnappers, neighbourhood informants and complicit police officers know that the victims are powerless and helpless.”
She also urged for government funding to help schools employ armed security professionals to safeguard children, teachers and other staff members from attacks.
"Mr President, by enabling this immediate line of defence for every community before state police become fully operational, especially the massive population of unemployed poor, and assistance to schools to employ armed security men to defend the lives of children and teachers, you will replace the face of indifference on your leadership with that of compassion," she said.