The Federal Government has declared the
“Green Police” inaugurated by the Cross River State Government as an
illegal and criminal outfit that violates the provisions of the 1999
constitution.
But the state government has disagreed
with the declaration made by the police, saying the outfit was backed by
a law enacted by the State’s House of Assembly with the aim to protect
the environment and create jobs for the people.
On Wednesday, the Nigerian Police Force
declared that the inauguration of the Green Police by the administration
of Governor Ben Ayade was an attempt to establish an illegal police
organisation, an act that is forbidden by the Nigerian constitution.
Addressing journalists in his office,
the state commissioner of police, Mr. Jimoh Obi-Ozeh, said the command
would stop the Green Police from operating in the state because the
Nigerian constitution recognises only one police force.
Quoting a relevant section of the
constitution to buttress the stance of the police, he said, “According
to Section 214 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria, with amendment 2011, there shall be a Police Force for Nigeria,
which shall be known as the Nigeria Police Force, and subject to the
provisions of this section, no other police force shall be established.”