EMPATHY for the valiant officers of the Nigeria Police Force is high, and rightly so. They operate under extremely difficult conditions: wages are pathetically low, there is little to no clear plan for housing or mortgage provision, and their pension scheme leaves much to be desired.
A forward-looking government should have long since embarked on a holistic reform of the policing system. It must do so now, as the situation has become deeply troubling.
The continuing reports of extrajudicial killings implicating some officers within the system are alarming and widely circulated. Only the most hardened individuals can watch the trending video of the brutality surrounding the killing of a 28-year-old man in Delta State without distress.
The officers involved appeared undeterred, even in an era where technology makes it possible for anyone to record such an incident. Frankly, their indifference reveals a dangerous mindset and underscores the urgent need for serious reform.
It is imperative that this case is not swept under the carpet, as has happened in the past. If previous infractions had been met with proper consequences, this pattern of recklessness might have been curbed. Justice must be swift, transparent, and uncompromising.
Reform must begin immediately, starting with recruitment and selection processes. These must be strictly merit-based and focused on identifying the most capable individuals. The entrenched culture of favouritism—commonly expressed as “man-know-man”—must come to an end.
The policing system must be professionalised from top to bottom, evolving into a respected career structure similar to fields such as accounting, law, and architecture. Modern crime prevention demands a technologically driven approach. The country must invest in advanced forensic laboratories and ensure the availability of well-trained personnel to manage them.
Given the worsening security situation, Nigeria must decentralise and upgrade its policing framework. The dangers of delay are already evident, and the National Assembly must stop dragging its feet on the implementation of community policing. The limitations of a centralised policing system in a multi-ethnic society are well known, and its consequences have been costly.
Reform can no longer be postponed—it is the only viable path to ending this cycle of violence.
We commiserate with the family of the young man and all previous victims. Justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done.
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