Prof. Oyesoji Aremu of the Institute for Peace and Strategic Studies, University of Ibadan, has warned that the insecurity in Nigeria may worsen.
He said the absence of policemen from their duty posts, after the End SARS unrest, was unsettling.
The professor of Counselling and Criminal Justice spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Ibadan.
“Their absence portends great danger to public peace. In effect, criminals and bandits may become more daring, knowing very well they may operate unchallenged. The non-presence could also make public and private institutions unsafe,” he said.
Aremu advised the police management and members of the public to engage in confidence building.
The don said police personnel would require assurances from the government that their lives would be protected.
He stated that in the history of the Nigeria Police, the security agency never witnessed the kind of recent public scrutiny and attack.
“The recent events have greatly affected the morale and commitment of the officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force, mainly because the public has withdrawn its legitimacy which is crucial to policing”, Aremu added.
A police officer has advised Nigerians to protect themselves, declaring that the current situation was not safe.
The DPO regretted that operatives were killed, stations damaged and armouries looted at several locations.
