The group which made this appeal in an open letter signed by its Secretary, Ezekiel Dalyop issued on Thursday said it would be total disregard to the mourning moods of the South-West communities where traditional rulers were recently killed by suspected terrorists if the government allowed the Police Games to hold on 20th February 2024 to 5th March 2024.
The Association of Coordinators of IDPs in Northern Nigeria has urged President Bola Tinubu to cancel the planned 2024 Police Games slated to hold in Oyo State over rising insecurity in the South-West region.
The group which made this appeal in an open letter signed by its Secretary, Ezekiel Dalyop issued on Thursday said it would be total disregard to the mourning moods of the South-West communities where traditional rulers were recently killed by suspected terrorists if the government allowed the Police Games to hold on 20th February 2024 to 5th March 2024.
The open letter reads in part: “Meanwhile, the Nigerian Police have set aside 20th February 2024 to 5th March 2024 for police games in Oyo State, Southwest Nigeria, at the chagrin of millions of vulnerable Nigerians amid simmering tension.
“This is insensitive following the killings of two traditional rulers in Ekiti State, the Onimojo of Imojo-Ekiti, Oba Olatunde Samuel Olusola and the Elesun of Esun-Ekiti, Oba David Babatunde Ogunsola and the recent bomb blast in Ibadan.
“The abduction of pupils and their teachers in Ekiti, the abduction of chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, Philip Aivoji, by gunmen along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and the fire outbreak on Monday, 29th January, at Ire Akari Estate Area of Soka, Ibadan, Oyo State, etc.
“Given the above scenarios, it is morally repugnant for the police games to take place when the region is thrown into mourning following the killing of their revered monarchs. It is also morally detestable to hold the games elsewhere in Nigeria under the current security situation in the country. The games, if allowed to come to fruition, the people of the region will pour curses on you, Mr. President for being less concerned about the happenings in the region and Nigeria at large.”
The group criticised the timing of the police game, citing recent kidnappings and banditry, and urged the government to hold the 'games' when the country made headway in addressing security challenges.
The letter continued: “To make their case worse, the total number of police in Nigeria is about 300,000 and it is estimated that about 23,000 sportsmen and women will participate in the national police sports festival. As it is now, the combined number of the Nigerian police and army is not sufficient to secure the nation that stretches across a land mass of about 356,668 sq miles (923,7770 sq kilometres) and a population of about 223 million people and their properties.
“Imagine the security implication if 23,000 police officers are taken out of the 300,000 police currently in service for police games including police personnel providing security for governors, local government chairmen, legislators, judges, corporate organisations, factories and wealthy individuals and when we add up to 23,000 for the police games, how many officers will be left to fight insecurity in the country?
“The cost implications of the tournament are another area of concern. The transportation of officials and contingents from 36 states including Abuja (to and fro) under the current subsidy regime, accommodation and feeding of officials and contingents for the duration that the tournament will last and the allowances of officials and contingents will be humongous and it will strain government coffers when we consider the general paucity of funds in the country.”
The group also asked the government to scrutinise police welfare due to inflation, affecting their psychological well-being and performance.