As Plateau State Governor, Barr. Caleb Mutfwang, and other advocates continue to push for the creation of state police, Retired Brigadier General John Sura has disagreed, insisting that Plateau has no need for such a security outfit.
In an interview with Weekend Trust, Gen. Sura explained that the state already has a Federal Government–approved security agency, Operation Rainbow, which is authorized to carry arms similar to those used by the federal police and the military.
“Most governors already have security outfits that operate under their state governments. In the South-East, there’s the ECN; in the South-West, Amotekun. On the Plateau, we have Operation Rainbow, approved by the Federal Government and equipped with modern tools. So, Plateau State has no business crying for a state police,” he stated.
According to him, Operation Rainbow, if properly managed, can deliver the same level of security expected from state police.
While acknowledging that there are arguments both for and against the creation of state police, Gen. Sura maintained that if Nigeria eventually adopts the idea, recruitment must be neutral and free from political influence.
He cautioned that giving state governors control over recruitment would politicize the system, saying, “If we agree to have a federal or state police, the recruitment must not be done by state governors. They may recruit along party lines, and when another party comes in, they will dissolve and rebuild it for themselves.”
The retired general further suggested that recruitment should follow constitutional guidelines and be handled by independent consultants or the federal police to ensure fairness and balance across party lines.
