Why Police reform failed in Nigeria

By Okechukwu Nwanguma

October 2020 marked a defining infinitesimal successful Nigeria’s history. For weeks, young Nigerians occupied streets and nationalist squares, agreed by a elemental but profound demand: End Police brutality, guarantee accountability, and betterment the Nigeria Police. The #EndSARS question was a outcry from a procreation that had grown weary of impunity. It was a telephone for dignity and justice.

Government’s effect was swift but shallow. SARS was disbanded, and astir immediately, the Special Weapons and Tactics, SWAT, portion was announced arsenic its replacement. Nigerians saw done it, aged vino successful a caller bottle. The protests, initially peaceful, were met with convulsive repression. The tragic events astatine the Lekki Tollgate, Lagos, stay a coiled connected the nation’s conscience.

Five years later, the promises that followed the protests prevarication unfulfilled. The aforesaid patterns of brutality, extortion, and impunity persist. Police reform, loudly proclaimed successful 2020, has failed yet again. To recognize why, we indispensable look beyond slogans to the structural and governmental roots of Nigeria’s policing crisis.

The Colonial bequest that persists

The Nigeria Police was ne'er designed to service the people. Created by assemblage authorities, it functioned arsenic an instrumentality of coercion – to enforce order, not justice; to support the state, not citizens. That bequest endures. Despite speech of “reform,” the policing doctrine remains authoritarian alternatively than democratic.

The transition of the Police Act 2020 appeared, astatine first, to awesome a caller beginning. It replaced the colonial-era Police Act of 1943, enshrining principles of accountability, quality rights, and assemblage partnership. It prohibited torture, guaranteed entree to ineligible representation, and mandated owed process. It besides promised unchangeable enactment and transparent funding.

On paper, it was a watershed. In practice, it has been mostly ignored.

Why reforms support failing

Nigeria’s nonaccomplishment to betterment the Police is not for deficiency of ideas oregon laws. Since 2006, much than a twelve statesmanlike committees person projected broad reforms. Each time, the signifier repeats: nationalist hearings, elaborate reports, achromatic papers, lofty promises and silence.

The reasons are depressingly consistent:

1. Political interference: The Police Council, constitutionally empowered to usher argumentation and enactment appointments, seldom meets. Presidents proceed to name Inspectors-General based connected loyalty alternatively than merit, undermining professionalism.

2. Perennial underfunding: Officers often trust connected complainants and suspects to money investigations. This breeds extortion and abuse. The Police Trust Fund exists, but its operations stay opaque and its interaction invisible.

3. Corrupt recruitment: Political patronage and bribery predominate recruitment. When unqualified oregon criminally- inclined individuals are admitted, grooming becomes futile.

4. Weak accountability: The Complaints Response Unit, CRU, and the Police Service Commission, PSC, are starved of resources and independence. Perpetrators of maltreatment are seldom punished, deepening the civilization of impunity.

5. Neglect of welfare: Poor salaries, collapsing barracks, and deficiency of healthcare oregon intelligence enactment crush morale. A neglected serviceman cannot embody integrity oregon professionalism.

Justice for victims: Still retired of reach

The judicial panels of enquiry established aft #EndSARS heard horrifying testimonies of torture, extortion, unlawful detention, and extrajudicial killings. Some authorities panels made recommendations for compensation and prosecution. Very fewer person been implemented. Families of victims inactive await justice, portion perpetrators proceed to deterioration the azygous of the authorities – sometimes adjacent promoted.

This sustained nonaccomplishment to investigate, punish, and remedy abuses violates Nigeria’s obligations nether planetary quality rights instrumentality and reinforces nationalist mistrust. It signals that the authorities values impunity implicit justice.

A federation inactive successful pain

Five years aft #EndSARS, the conditions that triggered the protests stay unchanged. Insecurity has deepened crossed the country. Kidnapping, banditry, and extrajudicial killings flourish. Citizens bash not spot the Police, and the Police bash not spot citizens, a breakdown that undermines the precise essence of nationalist safety.

Young Nigerians, the aforesaid demographic t...