To address brutality related cases of the police, human rights abuse, unethical and unprofessional misbehavior to citizens especially the helpless ones, we must encourage the proper workability of the Police/Community relations, enhance social policing for sustainable national security and emphasize on strategic communication and good human relations by the Police of the Nigerian police for effective policing.
There must be a holistic and comprehensive work. The laws that protect citizens’ rights, including the Nigerian Constitution, the Police Act, and the administration of criminal Justice Act must be made in ways that both the citizens and the personel become conscious of.
Citizens must emphasize accountability, transparency, and ethical conduct within the police force at all times. We must all ensure that the public are educated about their rights, information about avenues for seeking justice, and making people aware of police misconduct, this can empower more citizens to confront issues of abuse.
The capacity and independence of Police Service Commission and the National Human Rights Commission can help in investigating complaints and holding perpetrators accountable.
A comprehensive training programs that emphasize human rights protection, professional conduct, conflict resolution, and community policing can greatly improve the behavior and performance of police officers especially those Junior officers in our local stations.
At various states and across the 774 LGA’s, there should be an established systems for monitoring police conduct and establishing easy medium for reporting and addressing complaints for rapid response.
We must ensure that perpetrators of police brutality face legal consequences, and expedite the judicial process to provide justice for all victims. There must be collaboration with local NGOs, human rights groups, and community-based organizations that can help provide support, advocacy, and legal aid services for victims of police brutality.
It is crucial to prioritize the protection of vulnerable Nigerians who may be less educated and lack access to justice must be helped through community partnerships to provide legal representation, education, and access to justice for marginalized populations.
We must rebuild trust between the police and the community, we must foster open dialogue, community engagement, and create platforms for the public to report police misconduct without fear of reprisal.
There must be a genuine police reform in Nigeria to entrench integrity, the teaching of human rights education should be made compulsory at all levels of education in the country, most especially in Police barracks, stations and their academies.
The police authorities must place emphasis on the teaching of human rights during their training of Constable Police recruits who are most often culpable of committing violations of rights.
I write this as a conscious and patriotic citizen who sincerely want to see change, improvement and a better policing system in Nigeria.
Zaid Ayuba Alhaji (Sir. Kuli Kuli) is the President of the Arewa Youth Consultative Council AYCC.
