THE NIGERIAN POLICE FORCE AND HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN SOUTHEAST NIGERIA, 2005-2019

Abstract

The Nigeria police is the organ of the executive arm of government whose responsibility is to maintain law and order, protect life and property of the citizens. This understanding of the statutory roles of the police as the defender of the rights of the citizens under the law underscores the cardinal, humane and mutual relationships that should better exist between the police and members of the society. However, from the evidence of human rights abuse by the police, ranging from brutality, extra-judicial killing and harassment to molestation and torture, shows that the Nigerian police has increasingly deviated from its constitutional role of maintaining law and order, and the protection of human rights to human rights abuse and violation. This work is an expose on the series of human rights abuses perpertrated by the Nigerian police against the innocent citizens of the South-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria whom they are meant to protect. This study employs the historical methodology to analyse the actions of the Nigerian police against the citizens. Data for this work was from both primary and secondary sources. We conclude by suggesting that the culprits of human rights violation among the officers and men of the Nigeria Police be made to face the full wrath of the law. The power of the 1999 Constitution and the Police Act which define the roles of the Nigeria Police and penalty for breaching the regulations should be invoked by the federal government for appropriate action.