Addressing Police brutality as a form of Human Right Abuse in Nigeria: A study of government efforts

Police brutality have attracted the attention of researchers and human right stakeholders, into the causes of brutality and dimensions of manifestation. In Nigeria, as in many other countries of the world, police brutality has gone as far as taking lives, and casting a shadow of doubt on the professed responsibility of the government in protecting her citizens. In Nigeria, a case at hand is the EndSARS saga which is a consequent action of the youth to end police brutality, yet leading into more brutality and massacre. This study therefore, in addition to knowledge have explored the efforts of the government in addressing police brutality in Nigeria. The study’s objectives were to ascertain the relationship between police daily routine and human right abuse in Nigeria; to assess the effects of police brutality on its victim in Nigeria; to evaluate the accountability of government in proposed measures in addressing police brutality in Nigeria; and to score the effectiveness of the measures employed by the government in addressing police brutality in Nigeria. Concentrating the study in Owerri, Imo State with a total population of 945,046 in 2022. The study draws a sample of 381 respondents who supplied data through a 20-item questionnaire. The collected data were subjected to descriptive analysis using percentages, standard deviation and mean scores. The study’s finding shows that there is a significant relationship between police daily routine and human rights abuse; there is significant effect of police brutality on the victims; the government have not been accountable to their proposed measures for addressing police brutality; and those proposed measures are therefore not effective in addressing police brutality in Nigeria. Therefore, the study recommended that government should first revamp the economy to increase standard of living of its citizens, make policies with interest in solving problems and not pleasing the public, and train and retrain the police officers especially on the UN Principle on the use of force and firearms. police brutality, human right abuse, Nigeria, government efforts