NIGERIAN POLICE BRUTALITY AND EXTRA JUDICIAL KILLINGS: JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS

ABSTRACT

This research examines Police Brutality: Extra Judicial Killings and Justice for Victims in Nigeria. The Nigerian Police Force (NPF) is responsible for hundreds of extra-judicial executions, other unlawful and unsanctioned killings and enforced disappearances every year. This research discusses the nature and causes of extra-judicial killings in the Police Force. The research shows that extra judicial killings and brutality has often targeted the ordinary and common people since they are the most vulnerable. The security forces rarely adhere to legally mandated rules of engagement, and they are known to use excessive force to arrest, detain and kill any suspect. However, it was shown that police brutality and extra judicial killings are caused by chronic lack of resources, undertrained and unqualified staff, inadequate distribution of budget, poor public image, and the Police force Order 237 that provides a wide ground for the use of lethal force than is permissible under international law and standards. It was shown that there is a poor implementation of human rights law. The study shows that other factors responsible for human rights abuse, such as poor training, poor remuneration, poor infrastructures, corruption, illiteracy and poverty of victims. This study therefore recommends that recruitment of the police personnel should be on merit and qualification. Only those that are worthy of character should be employed by the force as this will help checkmate issues of human rights abuse. Strict punishment should be put in place for police who commit human rights abuses so that it would serve as deterrence to others.