POLICING THE SYSTEM IN DEMOCRATIC NIGERIA 1999–2015
POLICING THE SYSTEM IN DEMOCRATIC NIGERIA 1999–2015

Summary/Abstract: The Police are located at the façade of Criminal Justice System in virtually all countries in the globe and the efficacy of democratic system of government lies on the functional police as well as other related agencies of the Criminal Justice System or law enforcement agencies. Since the return of democratic rule in 1999, the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) has allowed politicians in government to use them against opposition. The paper examined the role of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) from the revival of democratic rule in Nigeria from 1999-2015. The paper adopted political economy theory and Weberian approach as theoretical triangulation and content analysis in the methodology. In the sixteen years of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rule before it was defeated at the 2015 general elections, the NPF has systemically impeded the process of political gatherings, mobilization and campaigns by the opposition politicians and political parties. The handling of political activities by the NPF shows that they often take side with the ruling party and the resultant effect is that the Police has lost its neutrality and respect before the citizens. The palpable fear is that Nigeria witnessed the dress rehearsal in the use of the Police Force as a repressive tool to distort and disrupt the beleaguered Nigerian democracy which signifies a gloomy future for democratic governance. It has been settled that the police usually engage in reckless harassment of civilians they perceived opposed then the ruling party. The paper found out that police in most countries are arguably the central public service of the modern state and as such are required by the citizens to display high sense of civility in their national callings. They are ought to protect the essential freedoms of the citizens and have monopoly over the use of legitimate force. The police in Nigeria since the period of British colonialism had been willing accomplice of the ruling class and the elite, perpetuating and abetting impunity that are detrimental to democratic mores and traditions. In this manner, the Nigeria Police is the most disrespected security agent in Nigeria and threatens the sustainability of the democratic experiment.

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