Causes and solutions to police brutality in Nigeria

Recall the EndSARS protests in 2020? That was when Nigerian youths took to the streets in their numbers to protest continued police brutality in the country. #EndSARS was trending on social media so much that foreigners, including globally celebrated celebrities, joined in the protest. The protests didn’t necessarily end well for the youths, but they did leave a heavy mark – police brutality is real and Nigerian youths are tired of it.

Police brutality is not totally a Nigerian problem alone. It is a global phenomenon with the United States always in the news for police brutality, especially against African Americans. Sometimes police kill or seriously injure people during arrests fueled by racism.

Table of Content hide 1What is police brutality? 2Police brutality in Nigeria 3Causes of police brutality in Nigeria 3.1Poverty 3.2Corruption and unreliable government 3.3Lack of training 3.4Greed 4Solutions to police brutality in Nigeria

What is police brutality?

Amnesty International defines police brutality as a term used to refer to various human rights violations by police. It is a human right abuse that includes beatings, forceful exploitation, racial abuse, unlawful killings, torture, or indiscriminate use of riot control agents at protests.

Police brutality in Nigeria

It’s almost two years after the peaceful #EndSARS protests ended in a brutal crackdown by Nigerian security forces in Abuja, Lagos, and other parts of the country. Yet, no one has been brought to justice for the torture violence, and killings of peaceful protesters. An investigation from Amnesty International revealed that the Nigerian Army and police killed at least 12 people on 20 October 2020 at Lekki toll gate and Alausa in Lagos. The body proved that pro-government supporters instigated violence at many demonstrations, providing cover for the police to use lethal force against peaceful protesters.

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2020’s protest was first a campaign to end the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) unit, notorious for extortion, torture, and extrajudicial killings. The movement snowballed into wider protests against bad governance, forcing authorities to suspend the unit and promised reforms. However, it didn’t stop the youths from protesting, as many saw it as a scam from the government until the ill-fated Lekki Toll gate crackdown.

Today, harassment from corrupt police officers on the streets of Lagos has resumed. Many youths are languishing in jail for crimes they didn’t commit. Some lucky ones who have been released recounted shocking details that led to their unlawful arrests. Many have died, so will not be able to tell their stories. We have also seen videos of some Nigerian police officers boldly demanding bribes from motorists or risk being arrested or even killed.

As usual, the youths are often the victims as many have been accused of being yahoo boys. Any young man wearing flashy clothes, tattoos, piercings, funky hairstyle, and driving a car is a suspect. Current Big Brother housemate, Hermes, revealed he spent most nights in the police cell mostly due to his looks.

Nothing has changed. SARS may have been disbanded, but it’s only a cosmetic effort by the government. The Nigerian Police Force announced that Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) would now carry out the duties of SARS and that there would be “extensive reforms” within the police force. Yet, people are still complaining of extortion, extrajudicial killings, torture, ill-treatment, and everything familiar with police brutality in Nigeria.

Causes of police brutality in Nigeria

Poverty

It is no news that the police force in Nigeria is not well paid. They live in squalid conditions in the so-called police quarters. As a result, many of them turn to other means to survive, including forcefully extorting and torturing citizens. All they need is money, and they are willing to do anything, including violating the human rights of individuals, to get it.

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Corruption and unreliable government

Some time ago, a video of a Nigerian police officer boasting that he would kill a motorist and get away with it surfaced online. Although the said officer has been arrested, it still goes to show the level at which the present administration should not be relied on to protect the lives and properties of citizens. The ordinary Nigerian is always at the receiving end of inhuman treatment from the police, the same people that have sworn to protect them. They left their jurisdiction to arrest, jail, and shake down young men who appear well off. Most of the time, they get away with their acts as the government does little or nothing to stop and punish offenders.

Lack of training

Nigerian police officers are trained before being deployed to their various posts. However, whatever training they’ve had is left behind at training schools because most of them behave more like thugs than officers of the law. For instance, the police spokesperson revealed some time ago that it is unlawful for the police to demand to search an individual’s phone. But the reverse is the case on the streets as officers boldly seize and go through citizens’ phones. Tell them it’s wrong, see if you will not receive slaps, and spend the next few days in jail.

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Greed

All they want is money. That is why they have diverted their attention from violent crimes to internet fraudsters, aka Yahoo Yahoo. Young men are the main target. They would stop you, search you, find a costly gadget, especially if you’re well dressed, and label you a scammer. They allegedly carry POS with them, so it would be easy to force you to withdraw some cash using your ATM card.

If you resist, they might take you to their station, beat you until you confess to being a scammer, then your family or friends would bring them money to bail you out. If you die during interrogation, they will dump your body someplace, your family will never find you, or they will simply accuse you of being an armed robber. They are AK47 trigger-happy criminals in police uniform, acting like demigods and making tons of money without being prosecuted.

Solutions to police brutality in Nigeria

• Reform and decentralize the police force in Nigeria. Perhaps, this is the best time to introduce state police so the institution can be better managed.
• Hold the police accountable for their actions. Prosecute offenders within the institution and units.
• Provide better training for officers and recruits.
• Increase the salaries of the police and improve their living quarters.
• Ensuring that the Nigeria Police Force is free from presidential and political interference. Only an independent police force can foster professionalism.
• Elect credible individuals in political offices. The 2023 general elections are coming, and citizens should be willing to elect reliable people that will serve them effectively. This includes introducing measures that will end police brutality in Nigeria.

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