Perception of the Nigerian Society on the Nigerian Police and Corruption

Abstract

The Nigerian Police was established with the purpose of enforcement of law and order in the society. This purpose is being threatened because of high level of corrupt practises which has bedevilled the rank and file of the Police. An average Nigerian does not regard the Police as an institution saddled with the responsibility of enforcement of law and order again but a corrupt institution. It is unfortunate to known that the enforcer of law is now the breaker of law.  Corruption came to a climax in the Police when two former Inspector Generals of the Police were dismissed on the allegation of embezzlement of millions of naira. The public has alleged the Nigerian Police of massive corruption and insensitive to the plight of the people they are statutorily assigned to police and this has not allowed smooth relationship between the Police and the public. The Police are corrupt, unfriendly and always in perpetual collision with the members of the public. There are even some insinuations that Police do collude with criminals to perpetrate crime.  The main objective of this study is to know how the public see the Nigerian Police in respect of corrupt and sharp practices in the Police. Questionnaires were used as the research instrument. To get a wide view of the respondents, three hundred questionnaires were distributed and answered. The result of survey showed that the public perceived the Nigerian Police as corrupt, lazy, inefficient, authoritarian and trigger-happy. The result of the survey also revealed a high level of corruption between the rank and file of the force. The research proffers recommendations on how to curb corruption in the Nigerian Police