IFEANYI ASSUMPTA OKWUBUASI

One of the foundations and fundamentals of every democratic society today is the entrenchment of fundamental human rights in its constitution and the protection of those rights. In fact, without such provision and protection, a state cannot be said to be truly democratic. Human rights in Nigeria are protected under the current constitution of 1999 Though it is frequently not given appropriate attention in its defense and application. Countless ordinary Nigerians attempting to make ends meet as taxi drivers, market traders, and shopkeepers are accosted on a daily basis by armed police officers who demand bribes and commit human rights abuses against them as a means of extorting money.1 Those who fail to pay are frequently threatened with arrest and physical harm. Far too often, these threats are carried out. Meanwhile, victims of crime are obliged to pay the police from the moment they enter a police station to file a complaint until the day their case is brought before a court. In the shadows, high-level police officials embezzle staggering sums of public funds meant to address some basic police operations. Senior police officers also enforce a perverse system of “returns” in which rank-and-file Officers are compelled to pay up the chain of command a share of the money they extort from the public.

This study examines the persistent and systemic violation of human rights by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), a critical issue that continues to undermine the rule of law and democratic stability in Nigeria. Despite constitutional guarantees and international treaties to which Nigeria is a signatory, the NPF has been frequently implicated in grave misconduct, including extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, unlawful detention, and widespread torture. The research adopts a multidisciplinary approach to analyze the socio-political and legal frameworks that allow these infractions to persist. Key findings suggest that a culture of impunity, inadequate oversight mechanisms, and the remnants of colonial-era policing structures are primary drivers of police brutality. Furthermore, the study evaluates the impact of the 2020 #EndSARS protests, highlighting the disconnect between government promises of reform and the lived realities of citizens. The paper concludes that while legislative frameworks like the Police Act of 2020 exist, they remain largely ineffective without a fundamental shift in institutional accountability and a robust independent investigative body. Recommendations are provided for comprehensive police reform, focusing on enhanced training in human rights standards, improved welfare for officers to curb corruption, and the empowerment of judicial and civil society oversight to ensure justice for victims of police abuse.