Please take a moment to read the following news report by George Oshodi:

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[center]NIGERIA: Abusers not protectors -- how Nigerians view their police force
[/center]

LAGOS, 24 May 2005 (IRIN) - The popularity of Nigeria's corrupt, poorly-paid and often brutal police force may never have been lower.

Four riots have erupted so far this month, as residents have risen up in anger at what they say are police murders of unarmed civilians. Some were said to have been killed just because they refused to pay a bribe.

Last week, near the southern oil hub of Port Harcourt, Police shot dead a youth who was one of several hundred people demonstrating about unemployment. The dead man's fellow protesters carried his body to the local police station before setting the building alight, smashing and burning patrol cars, and attacking officers with machetes.

Twenty-four hours later in the south-eastern state of Enugu, hundreds of truck drivers blocked a major highway to protest against the killing of one of their colleagues who had refused to hand over a 20 naira (15 US cents) bribe at a police roadblock.

"We see instances of police abuse and brutality in Nigeria every day," Carina Tertsakian, a Nigeria specialist for Human Rights Watch, told IRIN on Tuesday. "It's a pattern of behaviour that's left over from the military era. But we've had six years of civilian rule now."

"There has been a certain amount of cosmetic change. For example, the government has at least been making the right noises about cleaning up corruption, but we've seen no changes as far as other human rights abuses are concerned," the London-based researcher said.

"Nigeria still has a type of policing based on confrontation with the population rather than protection," she added.

Until the beginning of 2005, the official motto emblazoned on police patrol cars across Africa's most populous nation was "Operation Fire for Fire".

In January, as a new chief of police took over, it was changed to "Serving with integrity and honour." However, experts believe that a parallel shift in police mentality is still some way off.

As a recent editorial in the Nigerian daily Vanguard put it: "A poorly-paid, lowly-motivated force can turn its gun on anyone."

Reaching for the gun

The Centre for Law Enforcement Education in Nigeria (CLEEN), a local NGO, estimates that policemen at checkpoints resort to shooting in one out of 20 instances where motorists refuse to pay the bribes demanded. This in turn provokes more widespread clashes.

“When fatalities occur people often respond with anger, burning down police cars and police stations," CLEEN's executive director, Innocent Chukwuma, told IRIN. “There is brazen extortion by the police going on in different parts of the country, but especially in the provinces."

The teeming commercial capital, Lagos, is not immune to the problem. Earlier this month, a motorist was killed by a policeman during a traffic argument in the city's Maryland district. A mob quickly formed and burnt a police car in response.

It is not only bribes demanded at roadblocks that trigger protests. Sometimes perceived police incompetence is the cause of the unrest.

At the beginning of May in Yauri in the northern state of Kebbi, residents went on the rampage after police freed four men suspected of being behind a robbery. During police attempts to restore order to the remote town, officers shot and killed four people, witnesses said.

Chukwuma of CLEEN says this month's unrest forms part of a worrying pattern of clashes between Nigeria's 200,000 policemen and the citizens they are supposed to protect.

However, Tertsakian at Human Rights Watch believes that although there has been some popular resistance to brutal police practices, the protests will remain small-scale and patchy.

"There are phases where you see pockets of anger when people's backs are pushed to the wall, but overall it's very difficult for ordinary Nigerians to do anything about the police," she said. "To put it bluntly, they risk being shot dead and they know that."

Emmanuel Ighodalo, the spokesman for Nigeria's police force, acknowledged that decades of serving under repressive military regimes have not given policemen the sense of being a friend of the people.

But he said that officers implicated in wrongdoing in clashes with civilians were usually sacked, arrested and tried for appropriate offences, including murder. Police chiefs were taking the matter seriously, he said.

Servants of the people?

“We want a police that respects the fundamental rights of the people and knows that we are the servants of the people, using guns bought with the tax payer's money,” Ighodalo told IRIN.

However, the tax payers are generally far from impressed with their police force.

"Those in police uniform see the job as a money-making tool for themselves and not as a means of securing society," moaned Thomas Akinwale, a doctor in Lagos.

Corruption in the Nigerian police force seems to extend to the very top.

In January the Inspector General of Police, Tafa Balogun, quit under a cloud of corruption allegations. Three months later, he was brought to an Abuja court in handcuffs to face more than 90 counts of stealing public funds worth more than 13 billion naira (US $98 million).

At the other end of the spectrum, demanding bribes at roadblocks is one way for the lowest-ranking policeman in Nigeria to supplement his meagre salary of just 9,000 naira (US $68) a month, which often isn't even paid on time.

Police spokesman Ighodalo says that under the command of the new Inspector General, Sunday Ehindero, the authorities are putting considerable effort and resources into instilling the principles of “democratic policing”.

He said the new boss had adopted a strict zero-tolerance policy on corruption, but admitted that it would take time to bite.

“When we say zero-tolerance of corruption that does not mean police are no longer collecting money on the streets. We still have pockets of deviants,” he said, urging Nigerians to report those stepping out of line so they could be weeded out.

But experts and ordinary Nigerians remain sceptical about how much the police force will change, given that corruption flourishes across the West African country, despite attempts by President Olusegun Obasanjo to crack down on it.

“The police are only reflecting the abuse of office by those in the corridors of power,” said Mayowa Oluwole, a Lagos resident who describes himself as a frequent victim at police checkpoints. “They will only change when Nigeria as a whole also begins to change.”

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How do you view the Nigerian Police Force?[list][li]Do you view them as abusers?[/li][li]Do you view them as protectors?[/li][li]Do you think they are somewhere in between?[/li][li]Are they improving over time, or getting worse?[/li][/list]

Please feel free to share your opinion below (the Nigerian Police official website is at www.nigeriapolice.org). Thanks.

I feel they are an incompetent, brutal, corrupt and inherently lazy bunch. There may be exceptions, but I've not seen those. They 'll probably do anything to collect [I]egunje [bribe][/I].

Never sit inside your car and open ur boot for police to search, else he's drop a parcel in your car. Never trust any Policeman.

If you write a statement for a policeman on a piece of paper, please for your own good, cross out very well all the remaining unused spaces both in the front and back of the paper, otherwise you will have yourself to blame later.

I do not really value them, sincerely, because they are just a bunch of nuisance, some exceptional. What do you say about a scenario where they stop you, and while they are asking questions and they hear the noise of 'Ole, Ole', they take off, leaving you at the mercies of the deadly thieves[i]?(this actually happened to my brother somewhere in Ikeja, recently)[/i]
They complain that they are not adequately paid, and so use that excuse to extort money from motorists, just because they are have weapons with which they could scare people . What then do you say of teachers who are also not adequately paid, do they go about harrasing people?

You need to watch foreign movies and see what the police force is like you'll love them and would not mind to be a part of them. These ones in Nigeria are not anything to reckon with.

The problem with people is that they are never satisfied. Though i know that our Police is not the best, i also know that the working/living environment has made it so. Now, when you have a problem with someone who has duped u or wronged u and get the police to sort it out for u, u don't remember then that the police is corrupt. Why was the Minister of Housing sacked? is she a police woman? Why is it that all government Offices, you would need to give bribe for your file to move or for you to see an 'Oga'?

Its just unfortunate that the Police are in the eye of the public and so everyone would see their bad side. Someone has to speak for these guys now abi?

I think what we generally need to do is to join hands to make Nigeria better.

My last experience of nigerian po-po isn't one i would like to hold on to.

I came to nigeria a year and half ago for my father's funeral " He died in a car accident while on a 3 week holiday in nigeria"

Loosing your father is hard enough, going back to nigeria after 8 years away is also quite hard but getting chased by niaja po-po along lagos- ibadan express way just because they didnt spot our suitcases in time as we passed their check point wasn't pleasant.

The guys made us turn around at the next toll gate, took us all the way back to where their check point was based and started given us yawa. One of the officers asked me, do you not stop for the police where you are coming from and i told him they dont hide in the bush and harrass me for money in broad daylight...

They let us go after 30mins once we've paid for the petrol that they used to chase us... imagine!

So it's fair to say i'm not a fan of the boys in black...

seun, what's your take on them? What has your experience been?

I fear them a lot, and I keep away from them as much as possible, so I haven't really had any personal experience with them, and I hope I won't have to for a while.

I think they need to improve. They are saying they want to improve, but these corruption charges against their former chief (himself an anti-corruption campaigner) makes me feel they have just been joking!

The welfare of nigerian police should be maintain and you will see that they will change from all sorts of corruptions.
For example, a police constable is collecting 7,000.00 naira a month as a salary. Tell me how can that be okay for them, some of them have families to take care of.
For your information is not only police that are corrupt in nigeria but every nigerian. So their welfare should be maintain because their works is risk job.[color=#006600][/color]

Even though if the FG gives an Oil well to each Nigeria police like "wabara" they will still collect "Egunje"
They are just like pig, give pig a worthy bath it will still go to the mud.
  I believe they will never change. They are like cancer which has eaten deep into our fabrics.

Greatpeter, posts on this forum are meant to be constructive. If you're convinced that there's nothing that can be done to make the situation better then you ought to reserve your comments and let others contribute!

Seun, why this personal attack? Didn't you read the first four mails after your own up there?
Can't you see the votes cast yourself?
Are they improving?
I've had clashes with them many times on the road while travelling from Portharcourt to Ondo State, so i know what I'm saying. I have brothers in Police who are officers and my old friends are there. My in-law is there.

That road side naira has come to stay, because they send fractinal part of this money to even IG. I asked my friend who is now DPO in Ondo state, he said even though they give them a million per month that "family support" can't be toyed with. I travel every two-two months.

Now I play pranks on them, I bought a new car and put Abuja registration number, since three months now the experience is better just because they see Abuja number and you manage to dress like this our politicians , they will just pass you without asking for "wetin you go give us, we no go shop? I think once they search you and your papers are Ok you should let go.
But they won't.

Why we won’t stop collecting N20 – Police

John Ameh, Anambra

Policemen have openly defended the N20 they collect from motorists, blaming it on alleged lack of adequate welfare for the rank and file of the Nigeria Police Force.

They also claim that contrary to the widely-held view that they extorted the money from drivers, motorists actually “willingly offer to help” because of the pitiable conditions policemen had found themselves.

Our correspondent, who had an encounter with a team of policemen in the Onitsha-Enugu Expressway in Anambra State on Tuesday, observed that they defended the act as they took time to explain to passengers why they collected the money.

An officer on the team (names withheld) had stopped a Mitsubishi L-300 commercial bus our correspondent was travelling in right at the centre of the dual carriageway and shouted, “Where my Rogger?”

The driver pretended not to know that the policeman meant.

In the course of an argument, he ordered the driver, “Clear from the road; park very well; bring your particulars and I want your passengers to identify themselves.”

In the process of the introduction, the officer saw our correspondent’s identity card and exclaimed, “Punch!”

He continued, “Punch, you people have been writing that policemen collect N20. Why is your paper so interested in this N20 matter?”

“Why won’t we collect N20? Sometimes, you assume that policemen are receiving so much money from government. That is not true; we do not see the money. In fact, we read it in the papers the way you people also read it.

“Now, look at that patrol van. We fuel it from our own pockets to be able to work. We buy our own boots, uniforms and pay for our accommodation. These are things that are supposed to get to us through official funding.

“If you die on duty, your family suffers and if our colleagues die in the line of duty, we contribute money to take care of the burial expenses.

“These bus drivers understand these things and they cooperate with us by assisting us with the N20. Policemen do not beat or force anybody to give N20. It is not true.

“So, when you people write, you should add the reasons behind the collection of the money. Help us to ask more questions about police funds and welfare.

“The officer revealed that during a recent meeting called by the police high command in Abuja, the issue of the N20 was raised and “they were warning us not to disgrace the force by collecting the money.

“But, the point was also made on why this thing is taking place on the highways. They should address it from there.” he added.

The Punch, Wednesday July 13, 2005

Nigerians read the confession of our Police.

you see, the nigeria police is one of many problems we have in nigeria. it may be best for us if we treat it as part of a larger problem. Many nigerians are corrupt; remember that these policemen are not another specie of people. they are nigerians related to many of us. the problem becomes amplified because these people have killing weapons. The problem is analogous to the military taking over executive power of a country. Corruption is mother of all these occurences.

If we improve the quality of nigerians in general, we improve the quality of nigeria police. the problem of nigeria is not natural [/b]resource. it is [b]human resource.

how do we improve the quality of nigerians in general? by investing massively in education. our budgets [/b]needs to allocate more to education. if our students are trained better, they perform better. formal education improves people's technical quality. [b]What about morals? A first-class product may deliver on the job, but he may still be corrupt? I am yet to fathom a solution to the moral decay.

then, we also need to invest in the rule of law. Whenever someone commits a crime, the person must be dealt with seriously to deter others from doing so. The constitution, the courts, the police(now, i'm shooting myself in the foot). During Babangida's days, many a people were rewarded for being corrupt, and many a children followed suit. Now, that was real bad..

Let me take a pause here..

Question: Who said they are improving?

Chxta thank you for this question I don't see any improvement here ooo.

But I don't think Seun will like the way you asked the question lightly oo.

Human rights watch just released a report alleging that the nigerian police stil continues to use toture on detainees. The report termed 'Rest in piecies' is a well documented report based on about 50 interviews of previous detainees. Several horrible toture methods are described and elaborated. The fedral govt is yet to respond. What do you guyz think about the report and has anybody had a bad experience with the police. if so pls come foward with your experiences and stories.

let me tell you a police story. my cousin who is a lawyer is serving in Abakaliki. on her way to work one day, she took a bike. at a police chk point, the bike was stopped & asked for twenty naira. the bike man told the police he was the one who just passed few mins ago & gave them 20naira then. they dint believe him so... they started to drag the bike that my cousin sat on. she intervened & said they should please release them for her sake because she's getting late for work. they turned to her & said "you this ashawo corper, you don come sell your body for here?" they continued to drag the bike till she fell off it & straight onto the road. her clothes got torn & she had bruises, she said she was so upset that she started to cry & they dint look at her once. she turned to them & told them they were going to regret all their actions
for 2weeks, she would go out to that spot & hide in d dark so as to watch the guys. she got all their names in the process.
after that, she wrote a petition to the commissioner of police in the state, & made a copy for all media houses to see {you know police fear two bodies; journalists & lawyers}. the 5 police officers involved in the harassment were jailed for 2weeks, when they came out, my cousin was told to arraign them in court or ask for anything she wants. she asked for 100k from them. they resolved into paying her 60k. they've been paying into her account & are yet to finish the payment. whenever they see her around town now, or in their police station, they call her Madam. the once ashawo girl has now become Madam to them

Following the directive by the Judicial Commission of Inquiry constituted by the Federal Government to probe the alleged cold-blooded killing of six people at Apo in Abuja, the decomposed bodies of the Apo six were on Friday exhumed by medical personnel of the National Hospital, Abuja, for autopsy.

They were exhumed from a bush in Utako district, Abuja. During the exercise, all roads connecting the said bush were condoned off by armed policemen, under tight police security. This was witnessed by counsel to the four of the victims, Amobi Nzelu and families of the six deceased persons.

The exhumation started at about 12 noon. Medical experts from the National Hospital came with a pick-up van and an ambulance bus loaded with chemicals to douse the stench which covered the area as bodies of the Apo six were brought out of the grave one after the other.

It took about an hour and 11 minutes to exhume the bodies as the first body was brought out of the grave at about 12.05 pm, while the last one was brought out at about 1.16 p.m. The decomposed bodies were conveyed in body bags.

The six bodies were laid separately in the laboratory where the autopsy test would commence. The result of the test would be ready within the week.

Mother of the only female victim, Mrs. Monica Arebum, who maintained a visible distance from where the bodies were exhumed, said all she wanted was justice.

I haven´t been to Nigeria for quite some time but I occasionaly receive disgraceful news about Nigeria or our Nigerian Police Force on the Tv network here. At times I have to give an excuse of not going to work because my colleagues here make jest of me as Nigeria came out one of these days on the Tv as the most corruptable country in the whole world. May God help those of you in Nigeria.

Compare the number of unsolved bomb blasts and assasination with the performance of the largely unarmed British police . They caught 4 out of five culprits in the July 26 attempted bombing in 8 days.

Does anyone here have good factual info about the police?

For example, is it true they have to buy the fuel for their cars?
What are the requirements for joining?
What sort of training do they go through?

Also, Nigerian presidency
- requirements?

The force is Bad.hey...Nigeria is not the world most currupt country.....it never was...it was cameroon, the the following year was bangladesh.Though recently, TI has also pointed out that, Nigeria is doing pretty good this time..suprisingly, Canada isn't doing well, China too is not doing well.Now back to the subject matter.My take is that, they should fire all the police office without a bachelors degree.Then the new breed should be given 60k a month.and well equiped.Then each nigerian working would have to pay a 200 naira tax amonth for a police fund.All landlords too.all business owners 500 a month.Just for the police fund. Each town would have its own police fund and everyone would know how much that is. I mean its easy to accomplish, but only when everyone wisens up.

You people have forgotten to say something about the Nigerian Police, i will like to share my experience with you people, it was on the 15 of may 2005 that a day to the UEFA Champions league final between Ac Milan And Liverpool.
On that fateful night, me and my baby friend was taking a stroll about some streets away from my street that was about 9:05pm. Just of a sudden a bike was approaching us and the next thing i heard was: you are under arrest, i asked what have done to be arrested, before i knew what was going on, i saw myself in their bus and some other innocent Nigerian in the bus. They drove all around Lagos until it was some hours to midnight that they took us to their station, getting there we were asked if anyone of us had a thousand Naira on him or her, they treatened that the person without a thousand Naira will be thrown in the Cell, believe you me i spent the night there, me and my baby friend and some other innocent people like me.
In the cell was a different world as Fela as already sang with it. Right there in the cell alot of people started sharing their experinces, i couldn't help but cry, right there in the cell, some people has alredy spent 4-6 weeks their.
Well it was all by the grace of God that, i called someone i knew and the person came to my rescue. Police are sellings things to the people in the cell @ an exobitant rates, my brother POLICE ARE WICKED ooooo.

The way i see the Nigerian Policeman?
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20 Naira Policeman

Each day is a 20 Naira day
for the Nigerian Policeman,
each vehicle, a potential prey,
so break all the laws you can.
They stand at the corner of the street,
eyes roving, alert as a cat,
they are waiting with clenched teeth,
ready for all, whether lean or fat.

Make sure you have the 20 Naira note.
Fold lengthwise, slip between you fingers,
your left hand hanging from your window - afloat,
be quick about the financial transfer,
as if you just gave him a handshake
he'll look the other way and you're free
you have given him his piece of cake,
and you have your cup of tea.

Its no secret, its common knowledge:
"make una give am 20 Naira, make we go"
a passenger says as if it was the pledge.
I look in a wander, to and fro
if he'll give it, if he'll take it,
and quickly the exchange was made,
eyes read the mind, the mind reads the eyes,
daylight corruption - not in a shade.

Extortioners,
claiming to be looking for robbers,
trotting guns in full army gear,
asking "are you the owner of this car?"
They'll stop you if your car is new,
and if old, they'll think you're a runaway jaguda,
their case is a hot pot of stew
but 20 Naira gets you out, fast and clear.

At every 10 minute drive on the highway,
a roadblock - a 20 Naira toll gate,
going into greedy pockets, day by day,
The "friendly faces" are primary bait,
they'll charge you for what you never did,
a summary offence is what its called
when you refuse to pay the 20 Naira bail.

Conscience? where is their conscience,
as they put 20 Naira bribe food on the table,
pay their bills and send their children to school.
How will God bless those innocent kids,
reared with the 20 Naira bribe,
how can they become responsible citizens,
life father like son, like mother like daughter.

Its a shame, its a mystery
who will deliver us from this miry clay,
if you don't give, you'll be harassed,
if you do, just to save your neck
they are encouraged in their evil deed,
we are caught between a wall and a rock,
so why won't people break the law
when 20 Naira spells freedom.

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NIGERIAN POLICE FORRCCEE!!

Just the phrase makes me want to run to the nearest British Embassy! Do I need to spell out my views?

While peeps are so quick to trash The Nigerian Police,  Has anybody even asked why some of them are like that?? Working without any pay?? been owed salaries somtimes up to three months?,  And yet you give him a GUN??,  If they try the stuff they are doing to the Nigerian police in the WEST,  there will be a total break down. U can't give a man a GUN to work with and u leave his stomach empty. I can understand if they have no GUNS, but they do,  So he has a GUN and should starve to death??,  Watch his wive and kids starve to death??,   With the way they are been treated, i will say our police are not too bad considering the circumstances,  (Before anybody start screaming, please think properly about all I said),   Cause over here in Holland, our police are the first to get the lastest Cars and every new gadget to help them in their work, and they get their salaries before the end of the month.   So if there is ever going to be any change in the Nigerian police, then the government should invest heavily on them,  Train them properly, equip them with what they need to carry out their duties and most importantly pay them! And pay them well!, U think if u pay them well, they will need the 20naira??, whether u believe it or not, some of they are actualy ashamed of this 20naira bribe that has stigmatise them, But again should he starve??, They are been forced gradually to either obtain money from the public, starve to death or operate as armed robbers, If u ask me i say collecting from us the public is a better option, (I see it as keeping them working , as they normally say)

pS:If any police is reading this, pls you guys should dialoge more with the government and not take out all ur frustration on the public because they too are going through hard times, I still believe in ur abilities to carry out ur duty if treated properly and trained well

the issue here is not about low pay . The nigerian police force, to me , is the worst sector in Nigeria today . I tell u they are just too too bad . There is no one with his right sences or with good intention that will love to join the nigerian police force . The nation is experiencing a great turn around for good as the present governmnent of president Obasanjo has done alot to reduce corruption in the country but one major task that i think should be put into urgent consideration is the police force .
The people that are suppose to protect us are the ones killing us , the people that are suppose to prevent robbery are the ones stealing from us. Do u know that recently a friend of mine told me he preffers the thief to the police cos the thief will steal from u and run away but the police might steal from u and even kill u or even throw u to jail . We pray by the special grace of God that the almighty God comes to our rescue from the hands of the wicked one .
If u have a brother that wants to join the police force , he is likely to be frustrated or a thief himself .

the issue here is not about low pay . The nigerian police force, to me , is the worst sector in Nigeria today . I tell u they are just too too bad . There is no one with his right sences or with good intention that will love to join the nigerian police force . The nation is experiencing a great turn around for good as the present governmnent of president Obasanjo has done alot to reduce corruption in the country but one major task that i think should be put into urgent consideration is the police force .
 The people that are suppose to protect us are the ones killing us , the people that are suppose to prevent robbery are the ones stealing from us. Do u know that recently a friend of mine told me he preffers the thief to the police cos the thief will steal from u and run away but the police might steal from u and even kill u or even throw u to jail . We pray by the special grace of God that the almighty God comes to our rescue from the hands of the wicked one .
If u have a brother that wants to join the police force , he is likely to be frustrated or a thief himself ,

Its not about low pay??, So if they are paid and trained properly, they would still be bad is that what u are saying??, Are the Police specail breed of Nigerians??, Or they are the same just like any other Nigerian only this time they happen to be Police

quite frankly, i think the police force needs to be adequately funded, try visiting their web-site