As stakeholders continue to push for reforms in the nation’s internal security infrastructure, civil society groups have traced the failure of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to successfully secure communities to decades of deep-rooted mistrust, poor communication as well as perceived lack of accountability by operatives, who are often seen as occupying forces.

Drawing from a recent accountability fora and trust scorecard assessment carried out in some Abia and Enugu states communities by the CSOs, Citizens Centre for Integrated Development and Social Rights (CCIDESOR), an NGO, working in partnership with international alert, identified deep mistrust as barriers to collaboration between the police and communities in tackling insecurity. The report shows a misunderstanding of roles, poor or non-existent communication channels, and weak accountability mechanisms, all of which undermine trust and cooperation in fighting insecurity.

“Many community members misinterpret police actions due to inadequate communication, while some police officers operate with limited community engagement, leading to suspicion and hostility.

“Other recurring concerns include: Transactional or extortion-based policing, such as payments for bail or other basic services. Unprofessional conduct and use of torture during investigations.

“Lack of recognition of the role of traditional rulers in community security, rivalry and jurisdictional conflicts between the police, vigilantes, and other security outfits.

“For close to a decade now there has been a near total collapse of policing efforts, especially in the South East geopolitical zone as many communities see the police as part of an occupying force due to widespread extortions, impunity and outright attack on citizens which portray the police as an adversary,” the report said.

The CSOs noted that as the clamour for state police gains momentum, sustained measures to prioritise accountability through the transparent discipline of erring officers will not only improve collaboration but also foster community confidence to actively support policing efforts. 

According to a statement released by the CSOs, the fact that communities have begun to see complaints addressed and erring officers disciplined in a transparent manner, have greatly “improved collaboration between police and traditional rulers and fostered community confidence in support policing efforts, including reporting crimes, identifying suspects, and sharing information.

“These outcomes affirm that improved communication and mutual accountability are the strongest drivers of trust and cooperation between the police and citizens,” it said.

The report carried out as part of the Nigeria Police Force Reform Initiative III, according to Dr Emeka Ononamadu, convener of CCIDESOR, has implications for community policing generally.

“Effective policing depends on public confidence and cooperation. Without trust, communities withhold intelligence, resist lawful enforcement, and perceive the police as adversaries rather than protectors. 

“Therefore, strengthening trust through regular accountability, communication, and lawful conduct should become a cornerstone of police reform and community safety strategies. Moreover, full adherence to the Nigeria Police Act (as amended) is essential. 

“Law enforcement officers must themselves be models of respect for the rule of law. A police force that upholds the law earns natural legitimacy and voluntary community support,” it stated.

Following the fallout, he recommended the institutionalisation of accountability fora in all the States and LGAs as a way to continuously assess and address citizen–police concerns, sustain and expand the trust scorecard mechanism to track progress, discipline, and reform implementation, amongst other reforms. 

·        There’s need to promote Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) for minor offences to decongest detention facilities and build local confidence.

·        Posting new police recruits to their home LGAs, as this improves cultural understanding, language familiarity, and trust.

·        The federal and state governments should allocate resources to strengthen community–police communication and accountability mechanisms.

·        Encourage synergy among the police, traditional rulers, and local security networks through policy directives.

·        Continuous dialogue between communities and the police to sustain trust-building outcomes.

Engage in public education to correct misinformation and promote understanding of police roles.