Cardinal John Onaiyekan urged President Tinubu to equip and empower existing police officers rather than recruit 20,000 new ones, warning that Nigeria cannot afford delays in tackling insecurity.
At an international conference in Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan argued that the Federal Government should prioritize equipping and motivating existing police officers rather than recruiting 20,000 new ones, saying, “I’m not even sure we need 20,000 more policemen… Arm them well, treat them well, and they will do their job.”
He warned that training and deployment delays could prove disastrous, adding, “In one month, this country can be destroyed.” Onaiyekan also emphasized unity between Christians and Muslims in confronting insecurity, while speakers including Shehu Sani, Emrah Ilgen, and officials from the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution highlighted rising intolerance, shrinking civic space, and deepening mistrust, stressing that “polarization is not destiny” and urging renewed commitment to dialogue and national cohesion.