By Chesa Chesa
A new policy analysis by security experts has called for a fundamental transformation of policing in Nigeria, urging authorities to shift from a “force-centered” model to a “service-oriented” policing culture rooted in accountability, human rights, and democratic governance.
The policy brief, titled “From ‘Force’ to ‘Service’: Reframing Policing Culture and Human Rights Compliance in Nigeria,” was authored by Chibuike Njoku and Ndu Nwokolo under the auspices of Nextier.
Dr. Njoku is an Associate Consultant at Nextier, a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Advanced Studies, Ile-Ife, and a Senior Research Fellow at the Institut Français de Recherche en Afrique (IFRA-Nigeria). Dr. Nwokolo is a Managing Partner at Nextier and a Reader (Associate Professor) at the Institute for Peace, Security and Development Studies, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria.
The authors argued that Nigeria’s policing crisis is fundamentally a crisis of institutional culture and legitimacy, driven by decades of militarised policing practices, weak accountability systems, and persistent human rights violations.
They cited the April 2026 killing of a 28-year-old man in Effurun, Delta State, allegedly by an Assistant Superintendent of Police, as a stark example of the excessive use of force that has eroded public confidence in the Nigeria Police Force.
According to the report, viral footage of the incident, which showed the victim seated on the ground with his hands tied behind his back and pleading for his life before being shot, intensified public concerns over police brutality and democratic governance in the country.
The analysts noted that allegations of arbitrary arrests, torture, extortion, unlawful detention, and extrajudicial killings continue to undermine trust in law enforcement institutions despite ongoing security operations against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and communal violence.
The report also revisited the legacy of the 2020 End SARS protests, describing the demonstrations as a turning point that exposed deep public frustration over alleged abuses by the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad.
According to the authors, the protests evolved into a broader national demand for justice, accountability, and institutional reform, but concerns remain over the depth and sustainability of government-led reforms introduced afterward.
The report traced the roots of Nigeria’s current policing culture to the colonial era, arguing that policing structures were historically designed to suppress resistance and protect state authority rather than serve citizens.
It stated that this colonial legacy has continued to shape a state-centered and militarised policing approach that prioritises coercion and regime stability over public service and community partnership.
The analysts warned that the resulting trust deficit has serious implications for national security, noting that effective policing depends heavily on public cooperation, intelligence sharing, and institutional legitimacy.
“Where citizens perceive the police as abusive or unaccountable, trust declines, weakening both law enforcement effectiveness and democratic stability,” the report stated.
The policy brief identified corruption, extortion, weak disciplinary systems, and ineffective oversight mechanisms as major factors undermining public confidence in the police.
It also criticised the limited enforcement powers and inadequate funding of oversight institutions such as the National Human Rights Commission, arguing that these limitations weaken efforts to hold offending officers accountable.
To address the challenges, the authors recommended comprehensive police reform legislation that would redefine policing as a rights-based public service institution and establish an independent national policing oversight commission with full investigative and disciplinary powers.
They also called for increased funding for human rights training, improved welfare for police personnel, adoption of digital accountability tools such as body cameras, and the integration of procedural justice and de-escalation techniques into police training curricula.
The report further urged the National Assembly to strengthen legal frameworks governing police accountability and mandate regular public reporting on complaints, disciplinary actions, arrests, and use-of-force incidents.
Drawing lessons from reforms in Kenya, South Africa, Ghana, and the United Kingdom, the analysts argued that successful policing reforms require strong political commitment, institutional transparency, and active collaboration between law enforcement agencies and local communities.
They concluded that lasting security and democratic stability in Nigeria would depend on the extent to which policing institutions embrace accountability, legitimacy, and compliance with human rights as core operational principles.
