Human rights activist calls for reform, says policing should prioritise citizen protection over force.
Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has accused the Nigeria Police Force of enforcing measures that are not backed by law.
Sowore made the remarks on Wednesday while appearing on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, where he spoke on citizen–police relations and the need for structural reform within the police system.
He argued that the name “Police Force” reflects a colonial legacy that has shaped what he described as an adversarial relationship between officers and citizens.
“First thing is that we should call Nigeria Police Department and not a Force because some of the activities of the Nigeria Police and how they have adversarial relationship with citizens is rooted in where they came from; the colonial era,” he said.
Sowore stressed that policing should primarily focus on protecting citizens rather than merely enforcing laws.
“Policing should be about ensuring the protection of citizens in the country. The Nigeria Police have an interest only in enforcing laws and even enforcing what is not law,” he added.
He called on senior officers within the police hierarchy to reform the institution’s culture, urging a shift toward prioritising public safety and trust-building.
The Nigeria Police has not yet responded publicly to Sowore’s remarks.
