In any case, brutality here as elsewhere is a twoway street. Policing, nigeria, partnership, formal, informal, police institution introduction the nigeria police system is predominantly controlled by the formal police institutions that is, the nigeria police. Corruption and human rights abuses by the nigeria police. The first relates to the concept of police brutality. Opinion changing nigerias cruel police culture the new. Palestinian civilians killed by israeli security forces. Back in 2005 some policemen whose vehicle had broken down tried to commandeer a bus on the busy main road in front of police. In recent years, the police have come under serious scrutiny for police brutality, and this has been underscored by the presence of video camcorders. However, it has been a topic of conversation in recent years, with related cases popping up in the news regularly. Police brutality in south africa by david bruce from the report police brutality in southern africa a human rights perspective by mwanajiti, n. The human rights watch report 2012 concludes that in nigeria, the police have become a symbol of unfettered corruption, mismanagement, and abuse.
The controversy surrounding police brutality isnt a new idea, dating back to the 1800s. Lastly, killings by the security forces are more prevalent in the southern region, but cause more fatalities in the northern part of the country. Dec 29, 2016 police brutality in nigeria part two duration. Police brutality cant be isolated from nigerian social political and economic structure. Anytime you visit a police station in nigeria, youre most certainly drawn to an inscription boldly pasted on their walls that the police is your friend. The nigeria police especially the special antirobbery squad sars, the military and the state security service sss continue to subject detainees to torture and other illtreatment. In march, a high court in anambra state ordered the nigeria police to pay compensation to ugochukwu oraefo for unlawful detention and torture.
It takes two forms thompson 2004, which is physical brutality which includes. You are beaten, degraded an experience you will never forget and then you and your friends are taken to the police station. All u need to know the nigerian police force is the primary police serving nigeria which is one of the most populous nations of the world. Meanwhile, highlevel police officers embezzle public funds meant to pay for police operations. The nigerian police have been highly criticized for its inability to stem the rising tide of crimes in nigeria because of series of endemic problems in recruitment, training and discipline and lack expertise in specialized fields. Lagos, the worlds sixth most populous city with over 10 million people, has fewer than 12,000 police officers. Some horrified onlookers who pleaded on behalf of the man were allegedly assaulted.
Corruption, police brutality, bad discretion during investigations. Deploying these data, the study discussed brutality, extortion and violence by personnel of the nigerian police force npf. In 20, eight south african police officers tied a mozambican national to the back of a police van and dragged him for 400 meters leading to his death. This paper examined the role of the police in administration of criminal justice system in nigeria.
Police brutality has become prevalent in nigeria and is viewed by some as part and parcel of police operations. Hitherto, the nigeria police is still developing strategies for improving its vision modern community policing by departing from the nondemocratic platform where enforcement of law and order maintenance utilised coerciveness, brutality and disregard for fundamental human rights. The rise of public administration and the discovery of oil and natural gas are two major events believed to have led to the sustained. Its important to note that the first contact a criminal suspect in nigeria has with administration justice system is usually with the police or. The rise and rise of police brutality in africa the african. The nigeria police have the effrontery to engage in unprofessional conducts because successive nigerian political leaders condoned and engaged in criminality. Objectives for this goal are to determine whether arrested officers were also named as a civil defendant in any 42 u. Republican constitution 1963 provided f or local police force and the nigeria police force. Police brutality the 1999 constitution imbues citizens of nigeria with several rights. Elekwachi on hospital bed before she was operated upon at safehands hospital, lagos star ring vacantly as if in a daze, she beckoned with a wave from her hospital bed. The nervewracking acts of the police officers, in south africa in 20 and 2012 grabbed the attention of the world.
Systematic brutality, torture and abuse of human rights by the nigerian police. Like a dormant volcano, it was activated by the gruesome and. This paper examines the challenges that threaten the integrity of the nigeria police. Police use of excessive force is also called police brutality. So, there is need for urgent and farreaching measures to curb the menace. The nigerian police force and the task of policing democratic nigeria. For purpose of brevity, i will touch on only two of those theories. The second is eradication of corruption within the police. As a matter of fact, stories of police brutality abound all over the world. Aug 17, 2010 this 102page report documents the myriad forms of police corruption in nigeria. An essay on police brutality and its effect on society police brutality is a complex phenomenon, which has widespread effects on todays society. In lagos in 2016, it recorded 837 violent deaths, including 460 resulting from various criminal incidents.
The abuse of police authority this edition of the abuse of police authority. Presidential committee of the reform of the nigeria police force. Everything you need to know about human rights in nigeria. Some people think that the police are protecting their community and are doing whatever it takes to keep them safe. Police violence, use of force policies, and public health. Aug 29, 2007 for purpose of brevity, i will touch on only two of those theories. However, regionalization of police formations remained ochikalu, 2004.
The police force was established in the year 1820 and began with officers from imo state. Police brutality is a very controversial topic in america. There are currently plans to increase the force to 650,000, adding 280,000 new recruits to the existing 370,000. Police brutality and the police essay 940 words bartleby. Renewed crackdown on freedom of expression new york. According to official sources, there is one policeman for every 700 nigerians. Police brutality in nigeria has assumed an epidemic proportion. Oct 08, 2014 in any case, brutality here as elsewhere is a twoway street. Dec 23, 2019 anytime you visit a police station in nigeria, youre most certainly drawn to an inscription boldly pasted on their walls that the police is your friend. Both terms refer to any unnecessary use of force by police. Nigerian police a brutal reality the guardian nigeria.
With particular reference to the nigeria police force, the public confidence and trust which was already low made scholars to have asserted that the perceived ineffectiveness is occasioned basically by incidence of corruption within the police force soyombo, 2003. Interafrican network for human rights and development afronet, 2002. Police brutality is the use of excessive andor unnecessary force by police when dealing with civilians. The military seized power on 15 th january 1966 and dissolved t he local police forces, as a. This brutality ranges from assaults, death as a result of use of force, harassment, etc. This is a list of killings by law enforcement officers by country. The trending news of the ikoku 4 is a case in hand. This 100man contingent was essentially a consular protection force based in lagos, which later became known as the hausa force, sonamed after the ethnicity of the men recruited into the unit. The first goal of the study is to determine the nature and extent of police crime in the. Accidental discharge the obligations of the police in. Deputy chair introduction political corruption is a persistent phenomenon in nigeria.
The nigeria police force and the nigerian prison service granted us. Elekwachi on hospital bed before she was operated upon at safehands hospital, lagos star ring vacantly. Jan 09, 2017 you are beaten, degraded an experience you will never forget and then you and your friends are taken to the police station. In addition, by violence, we mean the intentional use of physical force or power, threatened or actual.
Police brutality is a controversial issue that has recently been in the news, but seems to have always been an issue in america. In 1879, a 1,200member armed paramilitary hausa constabulary was formed. Over the years, the nigerian police brutality has deteriorated from bad to worse,ranging from harassing and meting unjust treatments to mere suspects in a desperate bid to extract confessions, to wrongful accusations and imprisonment of citizens just to extort money. Narratives of inmates in ogun state prisons richard a.
Report of the duffus commission of inquiry into the breakdown of law and order, and police brutality in grenada 1975, by and police brutality in grenada duffus commission of inquiry into the breakdown of law and order html at filed under. Last month we brought you part one of the tragic story. Extrajudicial killings by the nigerian police force. Corruption fueling police abuses human rights watch. Police brutality refers to the intentional use of verbal or physical attacks directed towards individuals by the police force that result in false arrests, sexual abuse, or death. In 1930, colonial government established nigeria police force headed by an inspectorgeneral. Just last december, on the 7th precisely, greece in western europe, was catapulted into turmoil when a policeman shot a 15yearold student dead as an answer to the usual anti police slogans that a small group of ordinary and completely unarmed school students were. The officers were filmed tying mido macia to the back of a van that dragged. Though there have been consistent denials by the leadership of the nigerian police on the. Lastly, killings by the security forces are more prevalent in the southern region, but cause more fatalities in. The nigeria police is working to reorient itself but is doing so amid serious security. Just last december, on the 7th precisely, greece in western europe, was catapulted into turmoil when a policeman shot a 15yearold student dead as an answer to the usual antipolice slogans that a small group of ordinary and completely unarmed school students were. Police brutality and the police 1281 words 6 pages. Police authorities initially denied the barefaced brutality by its men, but the evidence was too compelling.
The most recent attempt made by the nigeria police force to improve its performance was the introduction of community policing programme in 2004. Police brutality in south africa the centre for the study. Pdf systematic brutality, torture and abuse of human rights. This study provides a wealth of data on a phenomena that relates directly to police integrity data that previously did not exist in any useable format. As stated earlier, no sooner was the police force established. Police officers perceptions of the nigeria police force. Nigerias police was first established in 1820 and it began with officers from the eastern part of nigeria, especially present day imo state. The first person to have the highest rank in all the police is commissioner general colonel kk. Nigeria watch sixth report on violence in nigeria 2016. The performance of the nigeria police force is stretched by operational challenges. It also shows how institutionalized extortion, a profound lack of political will to reform the force, and impunity. The first police force was established in 1861 by the british colonial administration in the territories known today as nigeria.
The nigeria police and the search for integrity in. The passage of the police reform bill by the senate is. This 102page report documents the myriad forms of police corruption in nigeria. Country or dependent territory, subnational area, etc. The brutality and corruption of nigerian police and. In most cases, the police are employed to execute the deadly tasks. Police brutality and corruption in nigeria student officer. A national study of police officers attitudes has been formatted for the web in pdf. Extrajudicial executions and other unlawful killings by the police in. List of killings by law enforcement officers by country. Police officers in nigeria routinely extort money from drivers and passengers at roadside checkpoints, in some cases resulting in confrontations that. Aug 17, 2010 police officers in nigeria routinely extort money from drivers and passengers at roadside checkpoints, in some cases resulting in confrontations that escalate to violence and other serious abuses.
Rise of police brutality victim of police brutality. Research objectives with reference to the above, this study seeks the following objectives. Faculty of social sciences university of nigeria, nsukka. Nigeria is a country where serious cases of abuse of police authority and human rights infringements by security agents often stimulate intense public debate. The death of chima ikunado, the latest victim of police brutality in port harcourt, could well be described as an eye opener to the avalanche of other inhumane cases perpetrated by the nigeria police but swept under the carpet. In contrast, the police recorded 246 murders, or a low rate of 2. Nigeria social media movement against police brutality. The nigeria police force npf is responsible for hundreds of extrajudicial executions, other.
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