Nigeria’s police force is uncouth, underfunded, ill-trained, feared, pitied and vilified by many. Solutions are needed to restore the dignity of our police.
“London Bridge is falling down. Falling down, falling down. London Bridge is falling down”, Dipo hummed as he strolled home from the sports bar. An avid Arsenal fan, he had just watched his team trounce Chelsea 2-0 at the emirates stadium. Few meters to his house, a dirty looking Volkswagen bus pulled up beside him. A scrawny looking police man stepped out and pointed his AK-47 rifle at him. “Get into the bus”, he mumbled to Dipo in a barely audible voice.
“Why”, Dipo asked nervously. The next few seconds passed in a blur as he felt a sharp pain on his cheeks. The police man had slapped him. The other police men in the bus came down, shoved Dipo into the bus and drove away.
They threatened to shoot and label him an armed robber if he refused to cooperate. He was driven to an ATM where he was extorted a 100,000 naira. Mission completed. They left him to lick his wounds and drove off in search of other prey.
Sounds like fiction right? But that is the depressing reality on ground.
The Nigerian police has the worst reputation of all public organizations in Nigeria. Their affinity for bribes is well documented while their penchant for extrajudicial killings is mind-boggling.
Nigerian citizens have resorted to settling scores through jungle justice due to their justifiable distrust of the police. The police have been known to deliberately or inadvertently bungle even the most ironclad cases.
In Nigeria, you could be arrested, assaulted, extorted or shot by the police if you are seen:
- standing in front of your house
- driving a clean car especially Toyota Camry
- wearing dreadlocks
- walking on the road
- using two phones
- using an expensive phone
- arguing your rights
- speaking correct English
Worst police force in the world
In 2016, the International Police Science Association released the World Internal Security & Police Index (WISPI) report ranking the Nigerian police as the worst in the world.
In a ranking of 127 countries, the report indicated that the Nigerian police had the least capacity to respond to internal security challenges.
The WISPI report measured performance by evaluating the police “across the four domains of internal security: capacity, process, legitimacy and outcomes.”
Capacity measured whether the level of resources devoted to internal security were enough to handle existing security issues and/or deal with any unexpected outbreak of civil unrest.
Legitimacy measures whether the police and security services act in the best interests of the society. This is measured by expert appraisal and perception of the citizens.
The outcomes domain measures the size of current threats to internal security. For instance, a high incidence of violent crime indicates that police are unable to control public spaces.
Process measures the effectiveness of the criminal justice system.
Terrifying issues with the Nigerian Police and viable steps to truly reform them
1. Lack of a visible strategy
The Nigerian police seem to lack a defined strategy. Every new inspector general comes in promising to make sweeping changes. Yet nothing seems to change.
Their standard modus operandi upon assumption of office is to:
- Order police off the highways
- Command the police officers attached to private individuals to report back to their offices
- Announce a new Police PRO/image maker
- Threaten criminals
- Repeat the cycle
Is this one a strategy?
Tip 1: Adopt a strategy
On assumption of office in January 2019, the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammad Abubakar Adamu, promised to evolve new strategies on addressing issues of kidnapping and other security challenges.
It is pitiable that police authorities actually believe that changing the reporting line of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) to commissioners would make the squad a better one.
Every inspector general of police has always resumed office by promising to transform the police force into an efficient unit. However, none of them has been able to collaborate with government and civil society to craft, adopt and implement a viable police transformation strategy.
The leadership of the police needs to come to terms with the fact that the force is performing way below standard. Then it needs to have brainstorming sessions with the public, civil society, government and the police service commission. They should also consult sister police forces in other countries where the police are efficient.
These sessions would serve to:
- Agree on expectations and Key Performance Indicators(KPIs) for the police
- Identify the factors/challenges preventing the police from performing well and areas for improvement
- Proffer solutions to these challenges
- Craft and adopt a suitable strategy for the police
2. Gross Indiscipline & Corruption
It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a typical Nigerian police officer to execute his/her duty without inducement (bribe).
Discipline is scarce in the Nigerian police force. It is commonplace to see police men and women:
- soliciting for and receiving bribes
- harassing innocent citizens
- sleeping on duty
- drinking on duty
- fighting among themselves
- fighting with the citizenry
- putting on bathroom slippers and dressing inappropriately while on duty
- flouting traffic rules and regulations
Tip 2: Implement and enforce a code of conduct for the police
The force currently has a code of conduct. However, nobody seems to be following this code. The code should be enforced at all levels with severe consequences for defaulters.
This would significantly reduce the prevalent indiscipline in the force.
The police reform bill in the house of assembly is a good omen. However, without government commitment to truly making a difference, the Nigerian police will still remain the scourge of the masses.
3. Chaotic recruitment and Half-baked training
Mildly speaking, the recruitment system is corrupt, derelict and quota system focused rather than merit driven.
A significant percentage of Nigerian Police men/women took the job as a last resort. The system has so many loopholes that people of questionable character and dubious motives find their way in.
There have been instances of people with criminal records being recruited into the police.
Its obvious that our police receive mediocre and archaic training which is evident in their performance on the job.
Few years ago our attention was drawn to the terrible condition of the police college in Lagos.
Tip 3: Improve police recruitment & training
The police recruitment procedure needs to be redesigned to increase the likelihood of employing police men and women who are disciplined, honest, empathetic, observant, intelligent, mentally resilient and physically strong.
The police needs to define standards for academic, physical, intellectual and emotional qualities and qualifications of intending police recruits. Then these standards should be adhered to.
Prospective police men and women should undergo rigorous background, drug, physical, mental and psychological checks.
Reputable recruitment agencies should be brought in at some stage of the process to assess intending police applicants based on properly defined criteria. Even if quota system is followed, the quality of entrants will improve.
Training: Our police training colleges should be remodeled and reequipped to meet international standards.
The curricula should also be upgraded to meet best practices. The lecturers should also be retrained. We should also look at the option of leveraging on our international relations to make use of tutors from foreign police academies.
4. Under-Policing
The United Nations recommends a ratio of One Police Man to 400 People. Nigeria’s population is roughly 190 Million as at December 2018. The number of police men/women is approximately 390,000. This is about 1 police man to 487 people.
The challenge is that the inadequate police force is disproportionately assigned to government officials, politicians and the rich. The wives of officials have been known to go about with 5 to 6 police officers attached to them. The number attached to the officials themselves can better be imagined.
Tip 4: Recruit to reduce under-policing
More police officers should be recruited across all cadres and properly trained and deployed.
The last attempt to recruit police men and women was besieged by political bickering. A significant amount of time was spent by legislators debating whether to recruit by state or local government area. Such pettiness!
The number of police men and women attached to government officials and the wealthy should be reduced. They should be posted to areas where they are truly needed.
5. Terrible welfare & conditions of service
Every worker desires good remuneration, cosy working environment, the right tools and opportunity for growth.
Sadly, these are all lacking in the Nigerian police.
In all fairness, the welfare of our police force is nothing to write home about.
Tip 5: Improve Police Welfare
The welfare, safety and health of the police should be reviewed. Many of them especially in the lower cadres are grossly underpaid.
There is a correlation between the wellbeing of the police and their performance.
The police needs:
- Better remuneration
- Better insurance cover
- Improved healthcare cover
- Good working conditions
- The right tools and equipment
6. Awful logistics and dreadful equipment
There are incidences of police officers mandating complainants to pay for writing materials, fuel for the station generator and recharge cards before they are attended to.
There are insinuations in certain quarters that the average police station gets 30,000 naira quarterly to manage its affairs. This is diabolical if true.
Our police have been known to inform people under distress that they don’t have fuel in their vehicles to come to their rescue. While this might not always be true, the government and police authorities need to ensure that such anomalies are put to a stop.
Some armed bandits have better arms than our police. Most vehicles used by the police are normal civilian ones which have not been modified to suit the job. Unlike what is obtained in saner climes.
Some of our police stations are converted residential buildings without the right functionality. This needs to be addressed.
Tip 6: Provide adequate equipment and logistics for policing
A bad workman quarrels with his tools. In the case of our police, both the workman and the tools are bad.
While proper training and welfare is of paramount importance, the government should provide the right equipment, resources and logistics to enable the police execute their tasks adequately.
The police budget should be upgraded and steps taken to ensure that the funds get to the right persons and properly utilized.
7. Inadequate assessment/appraisal and lack of consequences for misbehavior
The Nigerian police currently doesn’t have an effective assessment system.
The police routinely and openly collect bribes from transporters and pedestrians. They have the courage to do this because there is hardly repercussion for their misdeeds. The government and police authorities are obviously aware but not perturbed.
You observe that many police men dress shabbily while on duty. They have been known to wear mufti clothes on slippers while on official duty. This habit makes it difficult to differentiate them from armed robbers.
Tip 7: Improve Monitoring, Assessment and Appraisal System
You would have to think long and hard to remember any incidence of a police DPO or commissioner penalized for the misconduct of men under his/her watch. If this were to happen other police officers would take note and reduce their infractions.
Government needs to confirm if bail is truly free. If yes, the public needs to be informed while the police are monitored to ensure compliance.
A system, structure or agency needs to be setup to routinely monitor, assess and report on the activities of the police.
Police brutality is only effective when it is not caught on tape – Vince Megna
Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) should be setup in police stations and centrally monitored from States’ police headquarters. This would trigger significant improvement in the force. Treatment of complainants and suspects in custody would automatically improve.
8. Political interference with the police
There have been instances where police officers trying to judiciously execute their jobs are halted by a call from someone in power. There are also cases of police being used to suppress dissenting opposition voices or dubiously facilitate election outcomes.
Tip 8: Limit Political Interference
This requires tremendous political will. The Judiciary, Nigerian populace and civil society have a role to play. Civil society should publicize and criticize all instances of government/political interference in the force.
9. Indifference by Government and Political Elite
The government and political elite is aware of the shortcomings of the police force. However, nothing is done because:
- It usually doesn’t directly affect them/their family members.
- There is no political will to reform the police
- The government is clueless on how to transform the police
Tip 9: Government should wake up to their responsibilities
Our leaders should realize that security of lives and property is a fundamental human right. They should urgently initiate steps to identify the problems facing the police and take action to reform the police.
Nigerian citizens also have a part to play. Tribal/religious sentiments becloud our reasoning during elections especially. Nigerians should realize the power in their hands and vote for political candidates who are likely to work for the common good.
10. Terrible Image
The image of the Nigerian police is nothing to write home about. The average Nigerian does not trust the police while many people see the Nigerian police as a bunch of misfits and semi-criminals. The actions and inactions of the police over time may have alienated them from the people. Stories abound of innocent citizens being detained for reporting a crime or criminals set free after parting with bribes.
Tip 10: Public reorientation
The notoriety of the police is well earned and you can’t blame the people for having misgivings about them. Practical steps should be taken to transform the force and the citizens duly informed about the changes taking place.
The police needs image makers who know their onions. We have had instances of supposed police image makers insulting citizens on social media.
A police “spokes person” once advised Nigerians not to speak correct (Queen’s English) to police men to avoid being brutalized. This alone should give you an idea of the magnitude of reform needed in the force.
Little wonder police public relations efforts seem to be ineffective.
However, the police must match their words with appropriate action. Utilizing the services of the best public relations experts in the business will have no effect if the police force persists with their reprehensible behavior.
11. Carefree attitude of the Nigerian Populace
The police force has worsened because Nigerians have been generally apathetic unless they are directly affected.
Many have come to see police malfeasance as the norm rather than the exception.
Tip 11: Nigerians should play their role in reforming the police
We need to take back our country and our police. Everyone has a role to play both offline and online.
A video camera to a cop is like a cross to a vampire – Vince Megna
What we can do:
- hold our senators and representatives responsible. They are not just there to collect fat allowances
- commend police officers who go about their duties the right way
- strive to be law abiding
- address the police politely. They are also human
- stealthily record any nefarious acts by the police. We know their history of brutality so don’t let them see you
- buy and utilize dashboard cameras in our vehicles
- report all cases of police brutality and misbehavior
Special thanks to civil advocates like Segun Awosanya (@segalink) and Oluyemi Fasipe who relentlessly liaise with police authorities to bring succor to those whose rights are infringed by the police.
Conclusion
There are good men and women in the Nigerian police force who are swimming against the tide by being disciplined and objective.
However, the system is flawed and needs urgent reform. I call on the government to sit up, take the bull by the horns and decisively solve the shambles which is the Nigerian police.
Have you had any good or bad encounters with the Nigerian police? Kindly share your experiences in the comments.
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