If the I nstitutionalized racism in America makes police officers profile black people & even kill just because of the color of the skin of their victims, then what can we say about police brutality in Nigeria? Some would ask. Those killing us are like us. #EndImpunity 🚨 
They speak our language and live amongst us. They feel the weaponization of poverty by the 1% and are very much part of the 99% they oppress and violate. They are victims of the system too taking unconscionable orders & most often running their own racket because they can.
They have been mired in the culture of impunity and no longer feel it’s right to serve and protect the society they raise their own children in. Most can’t help being evil for it pays the bills while others can’t turn down the orders of their superiors feeding fat from impunity.
What you will notice about Policing across Africa is the vestiges of oppressive engagement inherited from colonialists. From 🇳🇬, 🇬🇭 (see first illustration) all the way to 🇿🇦 that once battled apartheid. The vivid picture you can’t deny is one that shows we are our own enemies.
I read this at some point and regardless of how one takes offense at the racist stereotype, there are pockets of adjectives that are true to its core about Africans in the way we relate with ourselves especially the cruelty of the privileged, powerful, positioned & in control.
Look at our police officers (those we encounter daily) and tell me how many of them that can be absolved from being deemed a stranger to compassion, empathy and sanity. If I am generous that will be one in 10. But here is what is peculiar about Nigerian police as balkanized.
For the rich in society, they can always get away with murder. For the right price some police units will travel miles to carry out abductions for the highest bidder, while posturing as crime busters at some other end but all that is hidden will surely come to light.
Some have asked if bigger salaries will solve the police brutality in Nigeria but this is yet another unfounded hypothesis since Marslow’s hierarchy of needs has been inverted. The most important issue is not money for the police but self actualization. They need true leadership.
We have carried out this experiment for over a decade and reviewed same in the past 3years. Police remains a service to the Nation and not a regular job that pays premium. The feeling of patriotism in a system that works, where career advancement is certain via meritocracy....
...makes you feel you are part of something greater than you and worthy of respect. Your dignity is at its peak and your uniform inspires all and sundry even if you have nothing in your bank account. Your pension is secure & your kid’s education is guaranteed...there’s more.
Operational independence is essential where regardless who is in power the police institution governs itself according to the provision of the constitution with amended sections that ensures police IG have security of tenure. This way he need not be obligated by politicians.
With the review of section 2.1.5- 3/4 of the constitution that mandates the IGP to obey all orders of the President including the unlawful and unconscionable ones, police structure can begin to grow a conscience and win trust of the people. This is what progress looks like.
Have said it severally that our system is not broken but designed this way just to keep failing. Police is the closest authority to the people & the bills on improving such institution should have been led by the Executive profiting from security votes but that is not the case.
These and many more reasons contribute to the murderous structure of policing we have today with inebriated and mentally disturbed illiterates wielding AK47 on our streets cum deranged souls manning stations merely to oppress & extort the public. This MUST change.
