When Protectors Become Perpetrators: Examining Police Use of Force and the Right to Life in Nigeria

  

     The primary duty of the police is to maintain law and order, prevent crime, and protect lives and property. Ideally, citizens should feel safe in the presence of law enforcement officers. Unfortunately, in Nigeria, this is not always the case. Over the years, repeated incidents of police brutality, torture, extrajudicial killings, and excessive use of force have created fear and distrust among citizens. Rather than being seen as protectors, some officers have become symbols of oppression and abuse. This reality raises serious concerns about the violation of the right to life, which is the most fundamental of all human rights.

     The right to life is recognized both under Nigerian law and international human rights instruments. Section 33 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria guarantees every person the right to life and states that no one should be intentionally deprived of it except in accordance with the law. Similar protections are provided under Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and Article 4 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. Although the law permits the use of force in limited situations such as self-defence, lawful arrest, or suppression of riots, such force must be reasonably necessary. The problem arises when officers go beyond these limits.

     Use of force in law enforcement refers to the amount of force reasonably required to compel compliance from an unwilling person. While force may sometimes be necessary, excessive force occurs when officers use more force than the situation demands. In Nigeria, the activities of the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) exposed the dangers of unchecked police power. For years, SARS officers were accused of torture, extortion, unlawful arrests, and killings. Despite repeated promises of reform, the abuses continued and eventually led to the nationwide #EndSARS protests in 2020. The situation became even more disturbing after the Lekki Toll Gate shooting, where peaceful protesters were allegedly shot by security operatives. These incidents deepened public anger and further weakened trust in law enforcement. 

     A more recent example is the tragic killing of Oghenemine Ogidi in April 2026. Reports and videos circulating online showed that he was intercepted by police officers after being asked by a friend to pick up a package at a motor park in Delta State. Although the package was later discovered to contain a firearm and ammunition, Oghenemine was restrained on the ground without any proper investigation. In the video, he was seen begging for his life before he was allegedly shot at close range by a police officer. What made the incident particularly disturbing was that the officer appeared to act as investigator, judge, and executioner all at once. Even if a suspect is believed to be guilty, the law is clear that only a court can determine guilt. Section 36 of the Constitution guarantees the right to fair hearing and presumes every accused person innocent until proven guilty.

     Police brutality in Nigeria is often fueled by poor training, corruption, weak accountability systems, and a culture of impunity. Many victims and their families are left traumatized, while public confidence in law enforcement continues to decline. To address this problem, there must be proper human rights training for officers, independent investigations into police misconduct, and strict punishment for unlawful killings. Police officers also need better welfare and psychological support to reduce frustration and abuse of power.

     The police were created to protect life, not destroy it. Until meaningful reforms are implemented and officers are held accountable for unlawful actions, the right to life will remain under threat. Justice must not only exist in the Constitution but also in practice. Only then can Nigerians begin to trust those who have sworn to serve and protect them.