It’s Time We All Start Supporting the Nigeria Police — For Our Own Safety
By EgbemaVoice
Imagine driving from Asaba to Warri with no police on the road. No checkpoints, no patrols. What would you feel? For most of us, it would be fear. That fear shows how much we actually rely on the police for safety, even when we criticize them.
Why do many Nigerians hate the police?
A big part of it is mistrust that has built up over years — from extortion, harassment, and unprofessional conduct by some officers. That pain is real, and it shouldn’t be excused. But the other part of the truth is that law and order breaks down when citizens also refuse to obey the law or cooperate with law enforcement.
Why is Nigeria different from saner climes?
In many countries, when a police officer says “you are under arrest,” people comply first and contest it later in court. That’s because the public understands that resisting an officer on the road endangers everyone. In Nigeria, the human rights conversation often stops at “police brutality” without also teaching citizens what their responsibilities are during a stop or arrest.
Last week before Agbarho, I witnessed this firsthand. A group of young men were shouting and harassing policemen who wanted to search their girlfriend’s bag. One of them said, “Don’t mind that foolish police. Who is he to check my girlfriend’s bag?” I stepped in, identified myself as a witness and a law-abiding citizen, and asked the ASP to take the couple to the station for proper investigation. I left my contact as a witness and drove off.
The question is: who speaks up for the police officers who lose their lives daily to armed robbers and kidnappers? Where are the protests and hashtags for them? Human rights should protect everyone — including the officer on duty.
If we want a better society, we must all contribute to it.
We can’t keep demanding a safer Nigeria while shielding friends and relatives who break the law. How many of us have reported a relative involved in crime to the police? How many of us condemn unprofessional police behavior and also condemn citizens who attack or obstruct police?
We also need to be honest about the conditions police officers work under. Many earn modest salaries yet face daily risks to protect the rest of us. Posting constant abuse and ridicule online only weakens morale and encourages more officers to “look away” when they see a crime.
The way forward is balance:
Citizens: Learn your rights and your responsibilities. Cooperate during lawful stops. Report misconduct through official channels, not mob action.
Human rights groups: Educate the public on how to behave during police encounters. This reduces confrontation and protects both citizens and officers.
Police: Continue to weed out bad eggs and uphold professionalism. Public trust is earned, not demanded.
All of us: Commend good work when we see it. Silence only makes the bad examples louder.
A nation cannot progress if we tear down the very institution meant to protect us, while also refusing to hold ourselves accountable. If we want a society where the law works, we must all be willing to sacrifice — police and public alike.
Let’s stop fueling a cycle where the police are expected to ignore crime so people can “survive.” That’s not survival. That’s slow collapse.
Let’s build a Nigeria where the police protect the people, and the people respect the law.
By KELVIN OSASERE.
Comments