igeria Police is part of the government agencies that has the responsibility for enforcing the law and /or providing protection to the communities; and as the first component in criminal justice system, it plays an important and sensitive role in the issue of "justice" and also in helping society run smoothly. Thus, one of the critical functions of the Nigeria Police like any police department in the rest of the world is the prevention and detection of crime. Part II Section 4 of the Nigeria Police Act states the duties of the Nigeria Police thus: "The police shall be employed for the prevention and detection of crime, the apprehension of offenders, the preservation of law and order, the protection of life and property and the due enforcement of all laws and regulations with which they are directly charged…." (1979 No. 23)
However, the issue of crime prevention and detection is more complex and deeper than the perception of an average Nigeria police officer on the street whose ideology on the issue is colonialism based - an approach where brute force, cruelty and intimidation of innocent, harmless, and powerless citizens are seen as the only means of prevention and detection of crime. Therefore, it is not uncommon to hear of Nigeria police brutality and cruelty in their daily interactions with the public.
Crime prevention and detection encompass both formal and informal approaches. The formal approach involves basically the criminal justice officials (police, court, and corrections), regulated by law or policy, and utilized to enforce explicit norms and values (i.e., criminal law). Informal approaches tend to be carried out by all members of society, unregulated, and used to enforce all norms of society. Crime prevention and detection efforts can also be designed to encompass both formal and informal strategies and this combination is more effective than either the formal or the informal separately. However, for this combinational approach to work effectively there should be a good relationship between the members of the society/public and the law enforcement officers (police) - this is "sine qua non" to the effectiveness and success of this latter approach
Undoubtedly, Nigeria police are lacking significantly in their relationship with the members of the public. Part of the Nigeria Police Force mission statement goes thus: "To partner with other relevant Security Agencies and the public in gathering, collating and sharing of information and intelligence with the intention of ensuring the safety and security of the country", and "To build a people's friendly Police Force that will respect and uphold the fundamental rights of all citizens". In contrast, the image an average Nigeria police officer on the street portrays to the public is that of cowardice when faced with dangerous situations (especially when fighting criminals), unprofessionalism, intimidators of the powerless, and abusers of authority.
Not long ago, as reported by almost all the dailies in Nigeria, a police officer in Lagos shot and killed 3 people because he felt offended that he was not offered an alcoholic drink which he requested with threat of firing gunshots if they did not oblige. A sergeant in Nigeria Police Force named Stephen James who was known in his community as a drunk and intimidator, was on duty and in uniform when he requested liquor, and when his request for alcoholic drink was not granted, he shot and killed 2 brothers and their friend, and then later killed himself with the same weapon. It is a common phenomenon to see police officers in their uniforms and with their guns drinking and getting drunk while on official duties in Nigeria, and it is a recurrent pattern to see police officers threatening innocent and powerless citizens with guns - in fact, most reasonable people don't argue with them as they are very capable of killing. However, when confronted with dangerous situations or criminal elements that are equally armed, the same officers will not hesitate to dump their uniforms and run for safety.
A recent example of this happened on the 20th of January, 2016, and was reported by the Punch with the title - "Lagos Police flee as robbers abduct couple, kill guard". According to the report, a group of armed robbers attacked a couple in their Landcruiser SUV, coincidentally; the incident took place behind a police station. And when alarm was raised, the policemen at the station rather than help hurriedly shut the gate of their station and shunned the calls for help. Some residents of the area however responded and one of them was shot dead by the hoodlums. In today's Punch February 5, 2016, it was reported that one medical doctor was shot and killed during a protest by the Nigeria Medical Association, Imo State chapter. This is an association of professionals in the medical field and not hoodlums with weapons - again showing the Nigeria police officers' mentality of brute force and cruelty in their interaction with the public. This is a failure of our Police Force in crowd management. Many more of similar cruel and brutal acts occur on daily basis most especially to those in the lower class but not reported.
When a crime is being committed, most members of the public do not know or have the right number to reach the police stations in their neighborhood, and if they do have the numbers and call, the police always give reasons why they can't make it down to the scene of the crime right away, or they will dilly-dally with time giving the criminal elements ample time to complete their nefarious acts and leave before they will get to the scene. Although, it should be noted that Nigeria Police Force lack the needed resources to fight crime as a result of corruption in government and even in Police Force. However, lack of resources in one problem, corruption is another; a good working relationship with the public is also a major factor that Nigeria Police needs to rigorously work on. There is no neighborhood of the middle or lower class that does not disapprove of Nigeria police officers; they are likened to lepers and pray not to have any dealings with them. Most Nigeria police officers go to their work daily with brute and cruel mentality of dealing with the public, and with the mindset of making money illegally by cheating monetarily members of the public, and this is not unnoticed by the members of the public.
According to the situational crime prevention theory, crimes are more likely to occur if they are easier to commit, have low risks of detection, provide attractive rewards, and are encouraged by the immediate environment. In Nigeria, crimes are easier to commit and have low risk of detection. The minister of justice during President Obasanjo regime - Chief Bola Ige was killed in his house and up till date the culprits were not found.
Criminals are not ghosts- they are humans who live amongst us. Thus, for the mission of Nigeria police to be accomplished, they need better interaction with the public; officers need to be highly professional and respectful. When they respect members of the public in their daily interaction, the public will respect them and cooperate with them in their fight against crime. The managers of the Nigeria police should also do more in building highly professional officers who are not going to abuse their authority and intimidate the powerless in the society.
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