Human rights violations

In Nigeria, there has been incessant abuse of its citizens’ rights by the Special Anti-robbery Squad(SARS) which led to popular EndSARS protest. SARS was controversial for its connection to extrajudicial killings,unlawful arrest, torture, lackmail, framing, extortuion, rape etc. Police brutality has resulted to resistance to police orders and activities by the citizens leading to legitimacy crisis.Victims of this harsh treatment are afraid to seek redress in court because they rarely receive justice. Even after the well-known ‘End SARS’ protest, citizens continue to complain about the police force's violent behavior. Moreover, the accused (police) often go free and are not apprehended for their crimes. This ongoing brutality has weakened the legal system and rendered it ineffective.The constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Nigeria Police (Establishment)Act, international conventions, professional ethics and other statutes, regulate as well as constrain the use of force by police.Despite these regulations, the police in many societies resort to using extreme force beyond limits as permitted by law in discharging their duties and in the process grossly disregard of the rule of law. Hence,this work critically examines police brutality and the rule of law by assessing its legal framework, accountability mechanisms, and human rights implications resulting from the use of excessive force by the Nigeria Police Force. The research evaluates the effectiveness and sufficiency of existing laws in regulating police conduct and preventing human rights violations. Additionally, the study assesses the human rights consequences of police brutality, particularly violations of rights to life, liberty, dignity, and movement. Using doctrinal analysis, the research identifies institutional weaknesses that undermine adherence to the rule of law. The findings emphasize the importance of comprehensive reforms, better oversight, and increasing public trust to ensure lawful and accountable policing. The study ends with practical suggestions for enhancing accountability measures and safeguarding human rights within democratic governance.

This research examines the duties and powers of the Nigerian Police in relation to criminal investigations, including arrest, interrogation, detention, stop and search, and prosecution. While the Nigerian Constitution and the Police Act grant the police wide-ranging powers necessary for maintaining law and order, these powers are frequently abused, leading to violations of fundamental human rights. The study explores key concepts such as unlawful arrest, extortion, and torture, and critically evaluates the legal framework governing police powers in Nigeria. By employing a mixed methodology doctrinal analysis of statutes and case law, alongside limited fieldwork through interviews and questionnaires the research highlights systemic weaknesses in accountability mechanisms, the absence of technological safeguards such as body-worn cameras, and the persistence of impunity within the force. It further identifies comparative best practices from other jurisdictions and recommends reforms, including stricter judicial oversight, independent complaints mechanisms, and mandatory adoption of body cameras. The study concludes that while the police remain indispensable to criminal justice administration, effective checks and balances are necessary to ensure that their powers are exercised within the ambit of the rule of law