faculty of social sciences - university of nigeria

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Faculty of Social Sciences

Department of Public Administration

CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF INSECURITY IN NIGERIA: THE

CHALLENGES AND RELEVANCE OF THE NIGERIAN POLICE

FORCE AS A PANACEA

OKARAH CHRISTIAN IFEANYI

PG/MSC/2012/64424

Digitally Signed by: Content manager’s Name

DN : CN = Weabmaster’s name

O = University of Nigeria, Nsukka

OU = Innovation Centre

Ezeh Remigius

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CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF INSECURITY IN NIGERIA: THE CHALLENGES AND RELEVANCE OF THE NIGERIAN POLICE

FORCE AS A PANACEA

BY


PG/MSC/2012/64424

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, NSUKKA

JANUARY 2014

1

TITLE PAGE

CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF INSECURITY IN NIGERIA: THE CHALLENGES AND RELEVANCE OF THE NIGERIAN POLICE

FORCE AS A PANACEA

BY


PG/MSC/2012/64424

A RESEARCH PROJECT SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

STUDIES,FACULTY OF THE SOCIAL SCIENCES,UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA,NSUKKA IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT FOR THE AWARD

OF MASTERS OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION(M.Sc)

JANUARY 2014

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APPROVAL PAGE

This research project has been read, studied, scrutinized and

approved by the undersigned personalities for the department of

public administration and local government studies, University of

Nigeria, Nsukka with reference to the Nigeria University commission

(NUC) recommendation.

BY

-------------------- --------------------

DR B.A AMUJIRI Date (Project Supervisor)

-------------------- -------------------- DR S.U AGU Date

(Head of Department) -------------------- PROF TAGBO UGWU (Dean Faculty of the Social Science) -------------------- Date

----------------------------

External Examiner

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CERTIFICATION

This project work has been approved for Department public

administration and local Government (PALG), University of Nigeria,

Nsukka.

BY

-------------------- --------------------

DR B.A AMUJIRI Date (Project Supervisor)

-------------------- -------------------- DR S.U AGU Date

(Head of Department) -------------------- PROF TAGBO UGWU (Dean Faculty of the Social Science) -------------------- Date

----------------------------

External Examiner

4

DEDICATION

To Mr. Chinweike Asadu, a native of Amaeze in Nsukka Local Government area of Enugu State and a senior police officer who until his untimely death was the Kwara State commissioner of

police.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

To Almighty God for the life he bestowed to me throughout my

stay in the university and presently.

The successful completion of this work is attributed to the

uncommon help, commitment and sacrifice of my parents,

colleagues and supervisor. I am immensely grateful to my parents,

Mr. and Mrs Okarah for their moral support.

I equally want to use this medium to express my profound

gratitude to God almighty and to my supervisor, Dr B.A Amujiri

(manas), for his support, guidance and painstaking efforts. He was

very instrumental to the timely completion of this work. My

appreciation also goes to all the lecturers in the Department, I really

appreciate their understanding and cooperation in refining me

academically, May God bless you all greatly.

Okarah Christian Ifeanyi chukwu

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TABLE OF CONTENTS Title page i Approval page ii Certification iii Dedication iv Acknowledgement v Table of content vi Abstract vii CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the study 1 1.2 Statement of the problem 9 1.3 Objective of the study 13 1.4 Significance of the study 14 1.5 Scope and limitations of the study 15 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW AND METHODOLOGY

2.1 Literature review 17 2.2 Theoretical framework 30 2.3 Hypotheses 34 2.4 Operationalization of key concepts 35 2.5 Methodology 36 CHAPTER THREE: BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE CASESTUDY 3.1 Historical development and structure of the Nigerian police Force 41 3.2 Mission and vision statement of the Nigerian police force 56 CHAPTER FOUR: DATA PRESENTATION,ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS

4.1 Data presentation 63 4.2 Findings 92 4.3 Discussion of findings 114 CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY,CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

5.1 Summary 117 5.2 Conclusion 118 5.3 Recommendation 119 Bibliography 122 Appendices 128

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ABSTRACT

This research work seeks to reveal the Causes and effects of insecurity in Nigeria and the challenges and relevance of the Nigerian police force as a

panacea. It is on this premise that the study bases its emphasis on the Nigerian police force to appraise and ascertain efforts and limitation encountered in providing adequate security to Nigerians. The subject matter is both timely and pivotal in this era when Nigeria’s image and freedom internationally and locally is deteriorating due to the pervasive insecurity being experienced today. This has bedeviled the Nations march

towards socio-economic growth and development. The study however, focuses on the causes and effect of insecurity in Nigeria, factors that have inhibited the Nigerian police force in performing its statutory functions and steps to be made to enhance greater security in Nigeria and to make the Nigeria police force more responsive to her duties. This work also gave a chronological historical antecedent of insecurity in Nigeria. It also delves

into the purview of the history, structure, mission and vision of the Nigerian police force. Moreover, the study revealed that the relevance of the Nigerian police force in relation to the security of the country is incapacitated by the inability of the government to address root causes of insecurity and proffer solution to these root causes. This is manifested in the inequality and high rate of poverty currently experienced in the country

even in the midst of plenty. The chapters in the study address various aspect of the problem. The revelation and recommendation made in this work will be invaluable and important to the Nigerian police, government, private and corporate organization, as well as, researchers in proffering

solution that will boost security in Nigeria.

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CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

In recent times, Nigeria has witnessed an unprecedented

plaque of crisis and insecurity, each leading to loss of lives and

destruction of properties. According to Ezeoha (2011:38) in Causes

and effects of insecurity in Nigeria, “Security means stability and

continually of livelihood, predictability of relationships, feeling safe

and belonging to a social group. Internal security, or IS, which is

related to security can be seen as the act of keeping peace within

the borders of a sovereign state or other self-governing territories.

This is done generally by upholding the national law and defending

against internal security threats. Those responsible for internal

security may range from police to paramilitary forces, and in

exceptional circumstances, the military itself.

Insecurity on the other hand, is the antithesis of security which

is the concept of insecurity. It has been ascribed different

interpretations in association with the various ways which it affects

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individuals. Some of the common descriptors of insecurity include:

want of safety; danger; hazard; uncertainty; want of confidence;

doubtful; inadequately guarded or protected; lacking stability;

troubled; lack of protection; and unsafe, to mention a few. All of

these have been used by different people to define the concept of

insecurity. These different descriptors, however, run into a common

reference to a state of vulnerability to harm and loss of life, property

or livelihood. Beland (2005) defined insecurity as “the state of fear

or anxiety stemming from a concrete or alleged lack of protection.”

It refers to lack or inadequate freedom from danger.

In the same token, Oshodi (2011) argues that one sure way of

tackling the insecurity situation in Nigeria is to accord the field of

psychology a pride of place in policy formulation and

implementation to promote national cohesion and integration.

However it can be clearly stated that Nigeria has remained

more insecure especially during and after the April 2011

presidential elections and has suffered more than ever in history, a

battery of ethno-religious-political crises, taking the shape of bomb

blasts sponsored by the Boko Haram religious sect.

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The unparalleled spate of terrorism, kidnappings and other violent

crimes is to say the least, alarming. Religious leaders, churches,

mosques etc are not spared in this onslaught. There is no

gainsaying the fact that Nigeria is at a cross-road and gradually

drifting towards a failed state if this insecurity trend continues.

According to Bavier, a writer who is a frequent visitor to the

northern region, told CNN that the

Federal government has completely lost control of the north-east, despite deploying thousands of troops and establishing a Joint Task Force. Now, he says, it looks like this insurgency has broken out of the north-east”. And what’s worrying, he says, is that there’s “not a whole lot of visible effort from the federal government to calm things down (Lister, 2012:14).

From the aforementioned one can posit that Nigeria has

witnessed an unprecedented level of insecurity. Inter and intra-

communal and ethnic clashes, ethno religious violence, armed

robbery, assassination, murder, gender-based violence, and bomb

explosion have been on the increase leading to enormous loss of life

and property and a general atmosphere of siege and social tension

for the populace (Ibrahim and Igbuzor, 2002:2). Furthermore

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between 2009 to date over 3,000 souls both military and civilians

have been lost in the purported “holy” crusade; this have further

paralyzed government plans in mapping out an efficient strategy in

combating insecurity. Despite soaring security budget, insecurity

still pervades the country.

Consequently, Insecurity has taken various forms in different

parts of the country. In the South-West, armed robbers have taken

over, while in the North, cross-border bandits operate with the ease.

However in the South-South there are rampant cases of

kidnapping. Also the incessant wave of crime and armed robbery

attacks, all point to the fact that insecurity is fast becoming a norm

in Nigeria and have somewhat suddenly become attractive to certain

individuals in seeking to resolve issues that could have ordinarily

been settled through due process. The end-products lead to the

decimation of innocent lives, disruption of economic activities, and

destruction of properties among others.

Just last year and early this year, the Emir of Kano-Alhaji Ado

Bayero narrowly escaped death by the whiskers. His driver and two

others were not lucky as they were hacked to death by the

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assailants. Somewhere in Okene, Kogi State, gunmen said to be

sympathetic to the Cause of Islamic rebels in Mali were said to have

ambushed and opened fire and killed two soldiers on their way to

been deployed to Mali. A faceless new group known as ‘’Vanguard

for the Protection of Moslems in Black Africa’’ has claimed

responsibility for this attack. Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iwela’s mother-Prof.

Mrs. Kaneme Okonjo was also kidnapped a while ago. It took a

demonstration of federal might-deployment of troops for her

abductors to free her. Also of recent the mother of Bayelsa State

House of Assembly was also kidnapped. These are prominent cases;

so many other incidents go unreported probably because the

victims lack a voice.

In an interview with Guardian Newspaper in united kingdom,

marking late Prof. Chinua Achebe’s 80th Birthday, he was quoted

as saying, “Nigeria is on the brink of a precipice” and that “we

urgently have to face up to our responsibilities before it is too late”.

Accordingly, Ogebe (1991) observed that the current

problems facing Nigeria is not the only rising incidence in crimes,

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but also the gradual shift in the categories of crimes committed

from less serious to a more serious and heinous crimes of violence.

This poses a great challenge to the police as well as raises questions

of the police accountability and effectiveness.

The Nigerian police have been highly criticized for its inability

to stem the rising tide of crimes in Nigeria because of series of

endemic problems in recruitment, training and discipline and lack

expertise in specialized fields. Corruption and dishonesty is also

widespread in the police force thereby engendering a low level of

public confidence by the public, leading to failure to report crimes,

and tendencies to resort to self-help by the public. Ash (1971)

observed that perhaps the police performance has been entirely

dissatisfactory because there is confusion concerning what police

men actually do on the job and what they reasonably can be

expected to do to achieve a more effective police force. The range of

services that police provide are vast and crime prevention account

for only 20 to 30 percent of police work. In many cities today police

work often seem to consist mainly of reaction to emergencies. It

sometimes appears that the original emphasis on crime prevention

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has been lost (Awake, 2000). This has greatly accounted for the

alarming rate of crimes in the country.

Corroborating the aforementioned, a total of sixteen (16)

policemen were arrested of recent in Gusau, the Zamfara State

capital by the Inspector General of Police Anti-robbery Squad for

allegedly releasing Police weapons and ammunition to armed

robbers terrorising people of the state. The affected police officers

are from various ranks, especially Inspectors and Sergeants

attached to Zamfara State Police Command. In the same vein, the

squad arrested a retired military officer based in Gusau who

specialized in selling ammunition and other sophisticated weapons

meant for the security personnel in the state to armed robbers and

people of Plateau and Kaduna States.

Subsequently, Aside from the bad eggs in the Nigerian police

force, the poor welfare of the police, military and paramilitary

personnel, with lack of adequate working tools, inadequate

personnel is another factor that promotes insecurity in Nigeria.

Olonisakin (2008:20) captures this when he posited that the police-

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population ratio in Nigeria is 1:450. At a minimum, citizens ought

to have easy access to the police and feel safer as a result of the

protection they offer. Yet Nigeria has failed to meet the standard set

by the United Nations for effective policing.

Today the incidence of police brutality, corruption, violence

murder and abuse of power has punctuated almost every aspect of

the society. Armed robbery in Nigeria operate almost freely in the

society, using deadly weapons without being challenged and

detected by the police and where the police are dully informed, they

give flimsy excuse that they do not have weapons to fight armed

robbers. Even the ordinary man on the street who is expected to be

supportive of the police often have serious misgiving when

confronted with the massive mutual aids granted to the criminals

by the police force. Apart from the aforementioned, Incidence of

shooting of innocent people in retaliation to policing policies has

also constituted a serious problem that has impeded police efforts

in crime prevention in Nigeria.

Research have shown that most of police work is taken up in

responding to crime after it has taken place and the police force do

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not have the resources to intervene in the circumstances which lead

to crimes being committed. The traditional approaches to crime

prevention also do little to address the causes of crime. They

assume that the high rate of crime is inevitable and that the public

must endeavor to defend itself against it.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Insecurity which is a feature of the Hobbesian state of

nature, when life was said to be solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and

short, and the weak and common man lived at the mercy of the

strong. This trend is exactly the case in the country today, if not

close. According to Thomas Hobbes (1588–1679) In his book entitled

Leviathan and published in 1651, he explicitly stated that in the

state of nature nothing can be considered just or unjust, and every

man must be considered to have a right to all things, even the right

to take other people’s lives. Hobbes says that the State of Nature is

a hypothetical state of affairs existing prior to the formulation of

'society' (which arises with the signing of the hypothetical 'Social

Contract').In the State of Nature, Hobbes thinks everyone acts

selfishly. He calls it a war of all against all.

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The book looks at the structure of the society and legitimate

government, and is regarded as one of the earliest and most

influential examples of social contract theory. Leviathan ranks as a

classic western work on statecraft comparable to Machiavelli's The

Prince. Written during the English Civil War (1642–1651), Leviathan

argues for a social contract and rule by an absolute sovereign.

Hobbes wrote that civil war and situations identified with a state of

nature and the famous motto Bellum omnium contra omnes ("the

war of all against all") could only be averted by strong central

government. Having rightly observed Thomas Hobbes writings, it

can be said then that Nigeria’s central government is porous and

weak to tackle her insecurity challenges which have been endemic

and endless, that is why there have been a lot of clamor for state

police in other to spread the security base of the Nation.

Furthermore Thomas Hobbes work, explains why the police

and Successive Nigerian Government see Insecurity as a bane to

the Nation’s economic and political development and have at

different times devised various means to curb its menace.

Consequently, these various means have not yielded satisfactory

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result. The newest security challenge is the boko haram militant

Islamist organization, which have taken numerous lives and

properties. The battle between the federal government and this

group began on 26 July when Boko Haram attacked a police station

in retaliation for the arrest of its leaders. Police responded with

their own retaliation and a curfew fell on the area. The attacks

spread and by the next day corpses were located around the police

stations. Nigerian troops then surrounded the home of the leader of

the sect, Mohammed Yusuf in Maiduguri on 28 July after his

followers barricaded themselves inside. However the worst

happened when Mohammed Yusuf was later extra judiciously killed

by the Nigerian police and ever since then Nigerians have not

known peace.

The socio-political implication of this development can only be

imagined, given the risks and agonies survivors are currently going

through.

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According to Egburonu (2012:20)

We are afraid of Boko Haram. Daddy and Mummy keep awake all night in case the attackers decide to invade our home. They would lock all the doors tightly, pray all Night and ask us to sleep. But we never can, for we don’t know what will happen next… They said we would soon go home, so we are waiting

That was how Miss Agnes Agwuocha, a 17-Year old student in

Kano, described the terror she and the members of her family have

been passing through since the terrorist group had given the

affected non indigenes a mere three-day ultimatum, and since after

the expiration, had followed it up with pockets of attacks and

killings in Yobe, Niger, and Borno states. But though these previous

Boko Haram attacks in several cities across the north have affected

mainly Igbos and other Christians and southerners.

To this end, the research work therefore intends to find out

answers to the following problems identified as follows:

i. What are the causes and effects of insecurity in Nigeria?

ii. Is the Nigerian police force equipped and properly empowered

to provide security to Nigerians?

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iii. What are the factors that have inhibited the Nigerian police

force in performing its statutory functions?

iv. Is the Nigerian police force relevant in combating insecurity in

Nigeria?

v. What are the steps to be made to enhance greater security in

Nigeria and to make the Nigeria police force more

responsive to her duties?

1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The objectives of this study are:

i. To find out the specific causes and fundamental effects of

Insecurity in Nigeria.

ii. To ascertain the extent to which Nigerian Police force is

equipped and empowered to provide security to Nigerians.

iii. To identify the challenges that has inhibited the Nigerian

police in performing its statutory functions.

iv. To explore the relevance of the Nigerian police force in

combating insecurity in Nigeria.

v. To seek out solutions to insecurity in Nigeria and corrections

that can be made to better the Nigerian police force.

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1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

Considering the crucial role of security in any government,

especially a democratically elected government, a study like this

has become necessary. The task of eradicating insecurity in

Nigeria is never a rosy affair but a Herculean task.

Insecurity in Nigeria has become so widespread and has

taken so many lives on the daily basis. It then follows that

something is wrong with our security affairs and also with the

state called Nigeria.

Practically, this work will help in re-emphasizing and

fostering ways by which the problem of insecurity can be

addressed. Even with the regrettably number of lives that have

been lost.

Academically, the work will be useful to the academic

environment. Post graduates and other researchers carrying out

research in related area will find the work very useful.

Theoretically, the weakness and other lapses that will be

identified in this research work will help the politicians and

policy makers in the country to restructure our security bodies.

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1.5 SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

Every research endeavor has its scope and limitations; our

scope of study is the causes and effects of insecurity in Nigeria,

the challenges and the relevance of the Nigerian police force as a

panacea.

Since it is impossible for a research endeavor to cover the

entire research population, the target population now becomes

Enugu and Anambra state because of the proximity of these

states. These two states was chosen because we believe that we

can get those who really know much about the Insecurity

challenges in the country and how the Nigeria police force have

been able to combat it so far. In this vein, the researcher will be

able to gather enough data that will definitely aid the study.

Apart from the inability of the researcher to cover all

members of the envisaged sample, the researcher faced some

limitations in retrieving some of the research instruments

administered to respondents especially police respondents

because of the nature of their job and their general lack of

appreciation of the value of social research. Also the police

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stations visited were hesitant in giving out some sensitive

statistical details and information to back up the research

project. All these constituted a constraint to the research

endeavor.

Notwithstanding the above noted Constraints, the

researcher made tremendous effort to make the study a Success.

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CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW AND METHODOLOGY

2.1 LITERATURE REVIEW

Our literature will be reviewed under the following

subheading in order to ensure clarity, consciousness and coherency

• The concept of security

• Security challenges and the Jonathan’s administration,

2007-2013

• The Jonathan administration’s response to threats of

insecurity in Nigeria

The concept of security

Security is a very important issue in the survival of any

Nation. Without adequate security of lives and property, the system

will be rife with lawlessness, chaos and eventual disintegration.

This is why security is considered as a dynamic condition, which

involves the relative ability of a state to counter threats to its core

values and interests. The security so concerned with by states, is

multifarious. It might be military, economic, ideological or cultural.

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Accordingly, the security for any state embodies a notion of

order, or of the conditions necessary to maintain the smooth

functioning and reproduction of an existing society. According to

McGrew (1988:101), the security of a nation is predicated on two

central pillars. On one hand, it entails the maintenance and

protection of the socio-economic order in the face of internal and

external threat. On the other, it entails the promotion of a preferred

international order, which minimize the threat to core values and

interests, as well as to the domestic order.

In a similar manner, Nwolise (2006:352) explained that

security is an all–encompassing holistic concept which implies that

the territory must be secured by a network of armed forces: that the

sovereignty of the state must be guaranteed by a democratic and

patriotic government, which in turn must be protected by the

military, police and the people themselves, the people must not only

be secured from external attacks but also from devastating

consequences of internal upheavals, unemployment, hunger,

starvation, diseases, ignorance, homelessness, environmental

degradation, pollution and socio-economic injustices.

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Furthermore, the primary objective of Nigeria’s national

security is to advance her interest and objectives to contain

instability, control crime, eliminate corruption, enhance genuine

development progress and growth, and improve the welfare and

wellbeing and quality of life of every citizen.

The second aspect of the nation’s national security entails the

preservation of the safety of Nigerians at home and abroad and the

protection of the sovereignty of the country’s integrity and its

interests. Also the concept of Internal security duties are generally

related to activities which takes place as protest against the actions

of government and non-government bodies, religious intolerance,

political thuggery and agitations which are likely to overstretch the

resources of the police and other law enforcement agencies.

Similarly, the enforcement of internal security duties have

seen the Army establishing various units like the joint task force in

the Niger Delta and deploying troops to flashpoints to douse

conflicts in these areas. The crises in these troubled areas no doubt

are manifestations of agitations and discontent exhibited by various

groups due to government policies of deprivation, marginalization

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and social injustice – a situation, which has created avenues for

“crises of legitimacy; the struggle for ascendancy between sub-

national and national loyalties, which, tend to open the floodgates

of irredentists and separatist claims” (Omotosho, 2004:18).

Security challenges and the Jonathan administration, 2007- 2013

In Nigeria, the achievement of desired level of internal security

particularly from 2007 -2013 was elusive. The above period

witnessed the proliferation of different militia groups that posed

serious security threats to the Nigerian government. Thus, such

unwholesome behaviors which not only affected economic activities

in many parts of Nigeria have also resulted in lost of numerous lives

and property of the Nigerian citizens. This pathetic situation is

critically examined under four case studies:

i. The Niger-Delta Crisis

Conflict in the Niger-Delta arose in the early 1990s due to tensions

between the foreign oil corporations and some Niger Delta's

minority ethnic groups who felt they were being exploited,

particularly the Ogonis and the Ijaws (Osungade, 2008). Thus,

ethnic and political unrest continued in the region throughout the

21

1990s and persisted despite the enthronement of democracy in

1999. However, competition for oil wealth in the region gave rise to

agitations, violence and subsequent extra-judicial killing of Ken

Saro-Wiwa and nine Ogoni leaders by Abacha's regime (Ogbodo,

2010:1). This action by Abacha's administration was condemned

not only by many Nigerians, but also the international community.

Consequently, the international community expressed her anger by

imposing several sanctions on Nigeria during this period. Thus, the

inability of the government particularly during the military era to

address the root causes of the agitation (environmental problems,

poverty, unemployment, lack of basic amenities, etc.), in the Niger

Delta region, resulted in proliferation of ethnic groups causing the

militarization of nearly the entire region by ethnic militia groups.

Consequently, the government established some institutions or

agencies to douse the tension in the area. This includes the Oil

Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC),

Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and Ministry of Niger

Delta (MND). In spite of these intervention regimes, the conflicts

and insecurity in the Niger Delta region persisted. To arrest the

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challenges of insecurity in the Niger Delta, the Federal Government

of Nigeria applied minimal force in a bid to ensure that these

militias drop their arms and end their hostilities against the

government and the people of the area. In August 2008, the federal

government launched a massive military crackdown on militants

(Amaizu, 2008:11). Thus, military patrolled waters, hunted for

militants, searched all civilian boats for weapons, and raided

numerous hideouts. Also, on May 15, 2009 a military operation

undertaken by a Joint Task Force (JTF) was put in place by the

federal government against MEND and their affiliates in the Niger

Delta region (Onoyume, 2008:5). These actions by the federal

government were in response to the activities of the militia groups

which adversely affected both the residents of the area and the

Nigerian economy (Onuorah, 2009:2). Paradoxically, rather than

the measures put in place by the federal government to address the

challenges of insecurity in the Niger Delta, the situation led to

incessant kidnapping of not only the foreign oil workers, but also

the indigenes and residents of the region. Hence, on June, 2009,

the Nigerian Government under the leadership of Late President

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Umaru Yar’adua, announced the granting of Amnesty and

unconditional pardon to militants in the Niger Delta region (Rotimi,

2009).

ii. Kidnapping in the South-East Zone of Nigeria

Kidnapping as a social problem is the act of illegally taking

somebody away and keeping him as a prisoner in order to get

money or something in return for releasing him. The history of

kidnapping in the South-East zone of Nigeria could be traced to

hostilities, conflicts and violence in the Niger Delta region. In the

South-East zone, especially in Abia and Imo States, kidnapping

activities were mainly targeted at prominent indigenes and

residents of these states. This situation was pervasive shortly after

the 2007 general elections in Nigeria. This is partly because, the

youths that were used as political thugs by politicians during the

2007 general elections in these states subsequently engaged in

kidnapping as means of livelihood after the elections. Indeed,

confession by those apprehended indicated that some politicians in

these states supplied guns to youths for the purpose of rigging the

2007 general elections. Unfortunately these guns were not retrieved

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at the end of the elections. Consequently, kidnapping later turned

to profitable business mostly among the youths in Abia, Imo,

Ebonyi and other states in the zone. Thus, the increasing rate of

kidnapping activities in Abia State, particularly in Aba metropolis,

resulted in several foiled attempts to kidnap the Abia State

Governor, Chief Theodore Orji in 2008 (Nwogu, 2008). Thus, from

2007 to 2010, several prominent men in Aba and its environs were

kidnapped for ransom. This adversely affected the economy of Abia

State as many businessmen and manufacturing companies

relocated to other states like Enugu and Anambra. Worse still,

people were kidnapped while attending church services and village

meetings (Ajani, 2010). To address the spate of kidnapping in the

South-East zone particularly in Abia state, the federal government

deployed soldiers to Aba metropolis and its environs. This bold step

taken by the government is put in clear perspective by Okoli (2009)

who states that:

Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State formally invited the Army to the State to assist in the fight against crime and criminals, especially kidnappers. Their Governor said the menace of kidnapping seemed to have overwhelmed the police...

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The action of the government in response to kidnapping, no doubt,

minimized the reported cases of the menace, especially in Aba and

its environs. This was partly as a result of intensive attacks

launched by the army at the hideout of kidnappers in Ukwa West

Local Government Area of Abia State (Sampson, 2010).

iii. Jos crisis

The Jos crisis is another internal security threat to Nigeria which

some observers have described as sectarian violence. This pathetic

situation which took a radical dimension from 1999 has been a

complex one.

According to Oladoyinbo (2010):

the crisis in Jos, Plateau State is a very complex one... it is tribal, religious and social...we discovered that politics is the major cause of some of these crises that erupted in that part of the country... there is no need for some people to use all means to dominate others or use people to subjugate others...the government in Nigeria has no courage...the government is not the solution but rather the problem...the government knows those behind all these riots, those importing arms into this country...

Thus, the Jos crisis has claimed numerous lives of Nigerians and

property worth millions of naira. However, the Jos crisis has

resulted to several attacks on Christians by Muslims. Indeed, from

26

2007 - 2010, over 10,000 Christians were slaughtered during the

Jos crisis. In 2010 crisis for instance, about 500 Christians lost

their lives (Oladoymbo, 2010: 15). Precisely, the Jos crisis has

resulted in unimaginable confrontation, killings, bombings and

other forms of violence. Many observers have argued that the root

cause of the crisis was the inordinate desire by Muslims to

forcefully convert Christians in the area as Muslim Faithfull’s,

others assert that the root causes of Jos crisis are culture and land

disputes. Thus, whatever the argument over the remote causes of

frequent crisis in Jos may be, the fact remains that it is one of the

greatest internal security threats to corporate existence of Nigeria.

Also, available evidence has shown that the crisis in Jos which has

been fought on sectarian lines may be traced to 'sour relationship'

between the Christian and Muslim communities in the area. This is

crucial because as Human Right Watch Report argues:

...Jos lies on the border between Nigeria's Muslim majority North and Christian majority South. Access to land resources is often determined by whether one is a native or 'indigene'... Jos is historically Christian city... Settlers are most often Muslims from the North... (Human Right Report, July 10, 2010).

27

iv. Boko Haram Crisis

Another major security challenge in Nigeria which has adversely

affected the Nigerian economy is the activities of Boko Haram

group. Etymologically, the term 'Boko Haram' is derived from Hausa

word 'Boko' meaning 'Animist', western, otherwise non-islamic

education; and the Arabic word Haram figuratively meaning 'sin' or

literally, 'forbidden' (Olugbode, 2010). The Boko Haram is a

controversial Nigerian Militant Islamist group that seeks the

imposition of Sharia law in the northern states of Nigeria.

Ideologically, the group opposes not only western education, but

western culture and modern science (Dunia, 2010). Historically, the

Boko Haran group was founded in 2002 in Maiduguri by Utaz

Mohammed Yusuf. In 2004, it moved to Kanama in Yobe state,

where it set up a base called 'Afghanistan', used to attack nearby

police stations and killing police officers (Awowole-Browne, 2010).

However, the founder of the group, Mohammed Yusuf was hostile to

democracy and secular education system; this is why the activities

of the Boko Haram group constitute serious security challenges in

the contemporary Nigerian state.

28

The Jonathan administration’s response to threats of


President Jonathan administration has taken certain measures to

make Nigeria a more secure place for peace and development to

thrive. The government responded by taking several measures

which can aptly be described as a “carrots and stick” approach but,

which have also generated a lot of debate within the country. Initial

government response was predominantly the use of physical force

that was later expanded to include a combination of verbal

admonitions and warnings; moral persuasion; deployment of troops

to flashpoints where the protesters are domiciled; the inauguration

of committees and panels to investigate the causes of the threats

and proffer necessary solutions and; the passage of a bill in to

tackle terrorist activities. Thus In showing concern over the threats,

President Jonathan in his broadcast to the nation remarked that

the time has come for the country to review its national security

policy as well as the functions and operations of the various

security agencies therein. To further show his seriousness President

Jonathan emphasized that the culprits and other perpetrators, “no

29

matter how remotely connected to these incidents, must be brought

to justice” (President Jonathan’s May 29th 2011 inauguration

speech Broadcast to the nation), (http: //www.peoplesdailyonline.

com).President Jonathan in his address the nation (National

Broadcast April 21, 2011).

Justified his action to use force against the perpetrators viz:

I have authorized the security agencies to use all lawful means, including justifiable force to end all acts of violence… I have directed that all perpetrators of these dastardly acts… and all those who continue to breach the peace and stability of this nation be apprehended and made to face the full wrath of the law.

Furthermore, the government has also embarked on an intensive

training of her security personnel especially police officers under

the special-anti-terrorism squad. Consequently to ensure the

effectiveness of the police, the government embarked on the

acquisition and distribution of bulletproof and armored vehicles to

various police commands.

30

2.2 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

For the purpose of this work, the theoretical framework of

analysis of this work is the theory of class struggle by Karl Marx

and Friedrich Engels, which was first expressed literally in the

Communist Manifesto 0f 1848.

Accordingly, Marx in his communist manifesto declared

that:

The history of all existing society is the history of class struggles. Freeman and Slave, patrician and plebeian, lord and serf, guild-master and journey man, in a word, oppressor and oppressed, stood in constant opposition to one another carry on uninterrupted now hidden now open fight, a fight that each time ended either in a revolutionary reconstitution of society at large, or in the common ruin of the contending classes (Bhatia,1978:291).

The struggles for the control of material values in the process

of production have given rise to the emergence of two main classes

in the society. Though classes are formed at the level of production,

the struggle between different classes revolve around the

organization of power as they seek to dominate one another (Nnoli:

2003). The dominant class emerges to protect and guard a

particular mode of production and mediate and moderate inter-

class and intra-class struggles in order to maintain stability.

31

Karl Marx in volume III of Capital, defined class in the following

words:

The owners merely of labour power, owners of capital and landowners, whose respective sources of income are wages, labourers, capitalists and landowners Constitute the three big classes of modern Society based upon the capitalist mode of production (See shivji, 1976:5)

Similarly, Lenin has also see classes as:

Large groups of people differing from Each other by the place they occupy in the historically determined system of social production, by their relation (in some cases fixed and formulated in law) to the means of production by their role in the social organization of labour, and consequently by the dimensions and mode of acquiring the share of social wealth of which they dispose. (See Nnoli, 2003:167)

The concept of class is essentially about ownership or non-

ownership of the means of production. Ownership here includes

both the control and appropriation of surplus value generated by

the society. Thus, the surplus-labour is unpaid labour appropriated

by employers in the form of work-time and outputs, on the basis

that employers own and supply the means of production worked

with. Consequently, for any division of labour to produce classes,

32

one social group must control and appropriate the labour of

another.

According to Karl Marx, bourgeoisie is meant to be the class

of modern capitalists, owners of the means of social production and

employers of wage labour. While proletariat is the class of modern

wage labourers who, having no means of production of their own,

are reduced to selling their labour power in order to live, this why

the interest of the owners of the means of production (capitalist) is

at variance with the interest of the non-owners of the means of

production (wage labourer), for instance the interest of the owners

of a factory (capitalist) is to maximize profit but this is countered by

the worker’s interest or demand for higher wages. Thus class

relations are therefore contradictory (Nnoli, 2003:40). There is the

notion of class-in-itself and class for-itself. In the former, members

of the group, play a similar role in the production process, but are

not aware or conscious of their common interest. In the latter

group, the member are not only aware that they share similar role

in the production process but are also conscious of their common

33

interest and are prepared to defend such interests whenever

occasions demand.

Application of the theory

The struggle among social classes for the control of state power

has been the propelling force in the development of many societies

including Nigeria. However, the basis of the struggle between the

two classes is the control of the state so as to determine social

policies especially the authoritative allocation of values and scarce

resources. This is why the Nigerian state has become a volatile state

with several security challenges. While the oppressed class agitates

for a new social order that ensure fairly equitable distribution of

resources, the bourgeois (the federal government, multinational oil

companies, and the rich) class preoccupies itself with maintaining

their class advantage, by extension the structural inequality which

has led to the insecurity currently faced by Nigeria.

According to karl Marx and some keen observers, the current

insecurity is as a result of so many issues, but most importantly, is

the unwillingness of the ruling class to willingly surrender power (in

34

other words not prepared to commit class suicide), Thus this have

constituted a major cause of insecurity in Nigeria because some

sects and groups are discontented with the ruling class, thereby

leading them to engage in intense struggle and violence. Thus such

agitations and struggles have resulted in class conflicts and

insecurity in Nigeria. Accordingly, Karl Marx opined that the class

struggle may lead to the overthrow of the ruling class or compel it to

embark on reforms such as increase in wages, welfare, bonuses,

political liberties, democratic participation in industrial affairs etc.

(Bangura 1985:39). Consequently, whether or not this will be the

case in Nigeria, it is left for time to tell.

2.3 HYPOTHESES

Based on the pervasiveness of insecurity in Nigeria and its

attendant consequences which as militated and dwarfed the

country’s march towards socio-economic cum political development

and the challenges the Nigerian police have to grapple with in

fighting the escalating insecurity situation which has generated

both positive and negative comments from the citizenry, the

researcher therefore formulated the following hypothesis:

35

1, There is a significant relationship between the ineffectiveness in

the Nigerian police and the insecurity situation in the country.

2, Shortage of crime fighting facilities by the Nigerian police has

direct link with the insecurity situation in the country.

3, Insecurity in the Nigerian society is aggravated by lack of social

protection programme for the poor and unemployed.

4, There is a significant relationship between Nigeria’s insecurity

and her slow socio-economic growth.

2.4 OPERATIONALIZATION OF KEY CONCEPTS

1, Security: For the purpose of this work, it is defined as a secure

condition or feeling and is also seen as the act of keeping peace

within the borders of a sovereign state or other self-governing

territory. This is done generally by upholding the national law and

defending against internal and external security threats.

2, Insecurity: It is a situation which is unsafe or inadequately

guarded or protected.

36

3, Panacea: It is known as a universal remedy which can help put

back something into a normal working condition.

4, Social security programme: is the action programs of government

intended to promote the welfare of the population at large.

5, Ineffective: not producing an intended effect or not capable of

performing efficiently or as expected.

6, Crime fighting facilities: equipments and facilities used in the act

or process of working to reduce the numbers of crimes.

2.5 METHODOLOGY

Research design and methodology

Design implies outlining the name of the equipment, sample

size and sampling technique, study design, scope and other

materials the researcher intends using and applying same to

successfully execute the practical aspect of the research.

Odo (1992:43) opined that design serves as a plan showing

what the researcher will carry out in a step by step procedure of

carrying out the entire study. Based on this premise, the

37

methodology adopted by the researcher was designed in such a way

as to collect data that will give a broader knowledge on the causes

and effects of insecurity in Nigeria, the challenges and the relevance

of the Nigerian police as a panacea.

In the course of collecting data, the questionnaire was

designed to meet the needs of the questionnaire items. Therefore,

the 5 point likert scale and other related option peculiar to the

items was also used. The data collected for the study will be

organized into frequency distribution table and percentages and will

be explained concisely.

Method of data collection

The data used in the study were collected from the primary and

secondary sources of data collection. The structured questionnaire

was based on one major sampling technique, which is the stratified

random sampling technique. In analyzing the data collected for this

research, the use tables were employed. The information tallied,

arranged and grouped in simple percentage and was carefully

explained. Similarly In the course of this study, the researcher

38

conducted the research in Nsukka, Enugu metropolis and Anambra

state respectively with an estimated population of 8000 people

which constitute the population of study; however 600 people were

selected as the sample size. Given the selected sample size, the

breakdown is as follows:

CATEGORY NO REPRESENTED PERCENTAGE%

Police officers 130 21.7

Academics 200 33.3

Students 150 25

Business men and

women

120 20

600 100

Source: field work

A Total of 600 respondents make up the total percentage of respondents.

The number of police officers who made their contributions are 103

respondents (21.7%). While respondents from the academics constituted 200

persons (33.3%) which is the highest. Also students from University of Nigeria

and environs added their opinion, 150 respondents (25%) represented this

39

group. The business environment also added their opinion, 120 respondents

(20%) from this group were given questionnaires.

Validity and reliability of the measuring instrument

According to Saunders, Lewis and Thorn hill (2003), the validity

and reliability of the information a researcher collects, as well as

the response rate achieved, depend to a large extent on the design

and structure of the researcher’s information. A theoretical

framework showing all assumed relationships between the causes

and effects of insecurity in Nigeria, the challenges and relevance of

the Nigerian police force as a panacea was developed for the study.

A quantitative method was identified as the main study paradigm.

Data was collected by means of a questionnaire which was carefully

constructed. In order to validate the reliability of the questionnaire,

a pretest was conducted. The instrument was piloted on 200 M.Sc

students in the Faculty of the social sciences, University of Nigeria,

Nsukka. The result of the pretest proves that the questionnaire is

valid and reliable.

40

Source: Field work

INSTRUMENT RETURN RATE

From the table above, it is observed that out of the total number of 600

questionnaires distributed, 120 were distributed to police officers out of which

100 were returned while 10 were not returned. 200 were distributed to

Academics of which 180 were returned and 20 were not returned. 150 were

distributed to students of which 120 were returned while 30 were not returned.

And 120 were distributed to business men and women out of which 100 were

returned and 20 were not returned.

The percentage returned is 86.7% while percentage not returned is 13.3%

of the total questionnaires distributed. Therefore 520 questionnaires (86.7%)

were used for the work.

CATEGORIES Police

officers

Academics Students Business

men and

women

Total %

Number

Returned

120 180 120 100 520 86.7

Not returned 10 20 30 20 80 13.3

Total 130 200 150 120 600 100

41

CHAPTER THREE

BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE CASE STUDY

3.1 HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT AND STRUCTURE OF THE

NIGERIAN POLICE FORCE

Matters of safety and security are topical issues in today’s

Nigeria. Life has become precarious in our country, that is why

when matters of security becomes an issue of discuss, the Nigerian

police is mentioned because of her constitutional role as the body

setup to maintain internal security within Nigeria territorial

borders. The Nigeria Police Force is designated by Section 194 of the

1979 constitution as the national police of Nigeria with exclusive

jurisdiction throughout the country. The Nigeria's police began with

a thirty-member consular guard formed in Lagos Colony in 1861. In

1879 a total of 1,200-member armed paramilitary Hausa

Constabulary was formed. In 1896 the Lagos Police was

established. A similar force, the Niger Coast Constabulary, was

formed in Calabar in 1894 under the newly proclaimed Niger Coast

Protectorate. In the north, the Royal Niger Company set up the

42

Royal Niger Company Constabulary in 1888 with headquarters at

Lokoja. When the protectorates of Northern and Southern Nigeria

were proclaimed in the early 1900s, part of the Royal Niger

Company Constabulary became the Northern Nigeria Police, and

part of the Niger Coast Constabulary became the Southern Nigeria

Police. Northern and Southern Nigeria were amalgamated in 1914,

but their police forces were not merged until 1930, forming the NPF,

headquartered in Lagos. During the colonial period, most police

were associated with local governments (native authorities). In the

1960s, under the First Republic, these forces were first regionalized

and then nationalized (source: www.npf.gov.ng)

The Nigerian Police Force performed conventional police

functions and was responsible for internal security generally; for

supporting the prison, immigration, and customs services; and for

performing military duties within or outside Nigeria as directed.

Plans were announced in mid-1980 to expand the force to 200,000.

By 1983, according to the federal budget, the strength of the NPF

was almost 152,000 and there were more than 1,300 police stations

nationwide. Police officers were not usually armed but were issued

43

weapons when required for specific missions or circumstances.

They were often deployed throughout the country, but in 1989

Babangida announced that a larger number of officers would be

posted to their native areas to facilitate police- community relations

(source: www.npf.gov.ng)

Furthermore, the structure of the Nigeria Police Force is

provided for in section 214 (2) (a) and 215(2) of the 1999

Constitution. These sections provide inter area,

SECTION 214(2) (a):-“Subject to the provisions of this constitution

(a) the Nigeria Police shall be organized and Administered in

accordance with such provisions as many be prescribed by an Act

of the National Assembly

SECTION 215 (2) “The Nigeria Police Force shall be under the

Command of the Inspector-General of Police and any contingents of

the Nigeria Police Force stationed in a state shall; subject to the

authority of the Inspector-General of Police, be under the command

of Commissioner of Police of that state” (source: www.npf.gov.ng)

44

From the provisions above, three different structures in the

Police Force can be identified. These are:-

a. Command (Authority) Structure.

b. Administration structure and

c. Organization structure

These structures are patterned to meet the constitutional

expectations of the Police, to perform effectively the duties assigned

to it.

A) Command (authority) structure

The Command structure, also referred to as authority

structure, of the Police Force is predicted on the regimental nature

of the Force and conducted along the Force badges of ranks. Thus,

in accordance with section 215(2) of the 1999 Constitution, section

6 of the Police Act, 1990 laws provide that “the Force shall be

commanded by the Inspector-General of Police”. This simply means

that orders, directives and instructions to perform or carry out the

duties with which the Police is carried, flows from the Inspector-

45

General of Police, through the chain of Command, to any Officer

positioned to implement such order. Disobedience or failure to carry

out such instruction, directive or order, attract punitive sanctions.

According to Section 7 (1) of the Police Act, the next in the line to

the Inspector General of Police, is the Deputy Inspector General of

Police. Though this rank is not specially mentioned in the

Constitution, it has legal backing, because the Police Act is a law

made by the National Assembly in accordance with the constitution.

According to section 7(1) of the Police Act, the Deputy Inspector

General of Police is the second in Command of the Force and shall

so act for him in the Inspector-General’s absence. Section 5 of the

Act makes room for as many DIGs as the Nigeria Police Council

considers appropriate. Every other rank below the IG, takes order of

Command from him, in the performance of their lawful duties.

(Source: www.npf.gov.ng)

The Office of the Assistant Inspector-General of Police is

provided for by section 5 and 8 of the Police Act. He shall act for the

Inspector-General of Police in the event of the absence of the

Inspector-General of Police and Deputy Inspector-General of Police.

46

Section 5 of the Police Act, in accordance with the provisions of

section 215 (2), of the Nigeria Constitution, provides for the Office

and rank of a Commissioner of Police who shall be in Control of

contingents of the Police Force stationed in a State. He is subject

however, to the command of the Inspector-General of Police or who-

so-ever acts for him, in his absence. Every other rank in the Force

is legally provided for by section 5 of the Police Act. The Command

structure of the Nigeria Police can be presented in the order of

hierarchy.

Command (authority) structure

1, The Inspector-General of Police

2, The Deputy Inspector-General of Police

3, The Asst. Inspector-General of Police

4, The Commissioner of Police (In-charge of contingents in a state)

5, The Deputy Commissioner of Police

6, The Asst. Commissioner of Police

7, The Chief Superintendent of Police

47

8, The Superintendent of Police

9, The Deputy Superintendent of Police

10, The Asst. Superintendent of Police

11, The Inspector of Police

12, Sergeant Major

13, Sergeant

14, Corporal

15, Constable


B) Administrative structure

The Nigeria Police is administratively structured and divided into

seven (7) departments: ‘A’ – ‘G’ with each department charged with

peculiar duties. Though their duties are inter-woven, they are

distinguishable.

48

1. ‘A’ Department: - Administration

• Direction, supervision and co-ordination of the various

department within the Directorate; Standardization of policies

and procedure of administration and finance of the Force;

• Periodical review of all standing force Orders, Regulations and

other relevant instruments;

• Maintenance of Force discipline by directing and reviewing

relevant policies and instructions;

• Convening of conference of the Directors, Zonal Police

Commanders (Z.P.Cs) and the Command Commissioner of

Police with the Inspector-General of Police;

• Planning, administration and monitoring of the budget and

finances of the Force;

• Organization, planning and supervision of Research

programmes, Management Information;

• Collating data for and publication of Annual Police Report;

49

• Convening the Force Tenders’ Board; and Planning and

Administration of welfare schemes, e.g., Medical;

• Laison, co-ordination and interaction with other Directorates

of the Nigeria Police Force, (Source: www.npf.gov.ng)

2. ‘B’ Department: - Operation

a. Planning and organizing internal security measures and

monitoring the execution of such security measures in time of

emergency;

b. Direction and co-ordination of Force policies on crime prevention;

c. Utilization of Force Animals

d. Formulation of Force policies on traffic control;

e. Planning coordinating and monitoring of the Force

communication network;

f. Reviewing and formulating policies on tactical operation schemes

for crime control and prevention;

50

g. Periodical inspections of various units for effective

implementation of the operational policies of the Police;

h. Planning and coordinating joint operation;

i. Formulating policies, planning and management of incidents such

as disturbance, riots, national disasters, elections, suppression of

insurrections and trade union disputes or conflicts;

j. Formulation and implementation of policies on antiterrorism;

k. Liaison, coordination and interaction with other Directorates of

the Nigeria Police Force;

l. Preparation of annual budget for the Directorate. (Source:

www.npf.gov.ng)

3. ‘C’ Department: - logistics and supply

a. Purchase of stores, clothing and Accoutrement;

b. Planning of building programmes;

c. Construction and maintenance of Police Buildings and quarters;

51

d. Arrangement of Board of Survey and Disposal of

unserviceable/Boarded vehicles, equipment etc.

e. Determination of costs of all equipment, e.g. vehicles, planes,

Helicopters; Wireless equipment, Bomb Disposal equipment, Force

Animals, Arms & Ammunition and other riot equipment, Boats,

Medical, Stationers, Spare parts, Printing equipment;

f. Responsibility for the procurement of all technical equipment.

Aircraft, Wireless, Medical, Armaments, Transport etc, clothing and

accoutrements, Stationers and office equipment;

g. Responsibility for the allocation and distribution of the

equipment procured for the various Police Commands and

Directorates;

h. Organization and direction Board of survey;

i. Responsibility for the planning and execution of building projects

and accommodation;

j. Erection and supervision of the maintenance Barracks, quarters,

office buildings and equipment;

52

k. Preparation of annual budget for the Directorate;

l. Liaison, coordination and interaction with other Directions of the

Nigeria Police Force.

4. ‘D’ Department: - investigation and intelligence

a. Criminal Investigations b. Interpol c. Antiguitics d. Crime

Prevention Policies e. Narcotics f. Forensic Matters g. Crime Records

h. Prosecution i. Criminal Intelligence;

5. ‘E’ Department: - training and command

a. Formulation and implementation of supervision of Force Training

policy

b. Supervision and coordination of the activities of the Police and

Police Staff Colleges

c. Liaison with Police and Civilian Institution of higher learning at

home and abroad for effective interchange of ideas;

d. Establishment of effective staff development programme;

e. Formulation training, research to keep pace with modern thought

in the field of training, staff development and equipment;

53

f. Formulating a uniform standard of training in all in all Police

Colleges/Training Schools;

g. Preparation of annual budget for the Directorate;

h. Liaison coordination and interaction with other Directorates in

the Nigeria Police Force;

6. ‘F’ Department

a. Research; b. Planning c. Inspectorate Division; d. Management

Information; e. Organization and Method

7. ‘G’ Department (ICT)

As it is known globally, technology plays significant role in modern

law enforcement to enhance efficiency and effectiveness of the

agencies. Thus, it is imperative for modern law enforcement agency

to have the capability to manage electronic databases and

communication systems as global crime has become more

sophisticated.

54

8. Office of the force secretary

a. Promotion and appointment of Superior Police Officers;

b. Deployment of Superior Police Officers;

c. Records of Superior Police Officers;

d. Discipline of Superior Police Officers;

e. Police Council meeting;

f. Inter-Ministerial matter; and

g. Promotion Boards

C. Organizational structure

The Nigerian police Force is further structured in line with the geo-

political structure of the Country, with provisions for supervisory

formations. The structure formation enables Police operational of

the internal Territory of Nigeria. The organizational structure of the

Police Force is represented as shown below:

• Force Headquarters

• Zonal Headquarters

55

• State Commands Headquarters

• Divisional Police Headquarters

• Police Station

• Police Post

• Village Police Post

By this nature, the Police Operational crime fighting function

is felt by the populace. The relevance of the structuring of the Police

to the defence and internal security of the nation can be

appreciated by the totality of Police role in internal security. The

whole weight of the powers and duties of the Police are spread on

the balance of these structures. A periodic assessment and review

of these structures to determine their relevance in the scheme of

the nation’s defence mechanism has remained a traditional exercise

in the Force, in order to catch-up with current global policing

strategies as prescribed in international defence policies.


56

3.2 MISSION AND VISION STATEMENT OF THE NIGERIAN

POLICE FORCE

Mission Statement

1. To make Nigeria safer and more secured for economic

development and growth; to create a safe and secured environment

for everyone living in Nigeria.

2. To partner with other relevant Security Agencies and the public

in gathering, collating and sharing of information and intelligence

with the intention of ensuring the safety and security of the

country;

3. To participate in efforts to address the root causes of crime while

ensuring that any criminal act is investigated so as to bring the

criminals to justice in a fair and professional manner.

4. Working together with people irrespective of religious, political,

social or economic affiliations. (Source: www.npf.gov.ng)

57

Vision statement

A. Deliver quality police service that is accessible to the generality of

the people;

B. Build a lasting trust in the police by members of the public;

C. Protect and uphold the rights of persons, to be impartial and

respectful in the performance of Police duties;

D. Continuously evaluate and improve Police services;

E. Provide equal opportunities for career developments for all

members of the force;

F. Cooperate with all relevant government Agencies and other

stakeholders.

G. Liaise with the Ministry of Police Affairs and the Police Service

Commission to formulate and implement policies for the effective

policing of Nigeria. (Source: www.npf.gov.ng)

58

Code of conduct and professional standards for police officers

To achieve the Mission and Visions illustrated above, it is expedient

to formulate a Code of Conduct for all Police officers employed into

the Service of the Nigeria Police Force. The code will be regarded as

an accountability code that will apply to all officers (irrespective of

rank) and will reflect International conventions for Law

Enforcement Agents, the provisions of sections 353-368 of Part XV

of the Police Act (cap 359) and other relevant Force Orders as well

as Public Service Rules. However, the purpose of having a code of

conduct is to provide all members for the Nigeria Police Force with a

set of guiding principles and standards of behavior while on or off-

duty. It is intended to be used by Police officers in determining what

is right and proper in all their actions. The code should set an

outline which every member of the Force can easily understand. It

will enable Policemen to know what type of conduct by a Police

officer is right and what is wrong. The code will encompass the

following:

59

Primary Responsibilities of a Police Officer – A police officer acts

as an official representative of government who is required and

trusted to work within the law. The officer’s powers and duties are

conferred by statute. The fundamental duties of a police officer

include serving the community, safeguarding lives and property,

protecting the innocent, keeping the peace and ensuring the rights

of all to liberty, equality and justice.

Performance of duties as a police officer – a police officer shall

perform all duties impartially, without favor of affection or ill will

and without regard to status, sex, race, religion, political belief or

aspiration. All citizens will be treated equally with courtesy,

consideration and dignity. Officers will never allow personal

feelings, animosities or friendships to influence official conduct.

Laws will be enforced appropriately and courteously and in carrying

out their responsibilities, officers will strive to obtain maximum

cooperation from the public. They will conduct themselves both in

appearance and composure, in such a manner as to inspire

confidence and respect for the position of public trust they hold.

60

Discretion - a Police officer will use responsibly, the discretion

vested in his position and exercise it within the law.

Use of Force – a police officer will never employ unnecessary force

or violence and will use only such force in discharge of duty, as is

reasonable in all circumstances. The use of force should be used

only after discussion, negotiation and persuasion have been found

to be inappropriate or ineffective. While the use of force is

occasionally unavoidable, every police officer will refrain from

unnecessary infliction of pain or suffering and will never engage in

cruel, degrading or inhuman treatment of any person.

Confidentiality – Whatever a police officer sees, hears or learns

which is of a confidential nature, will be kept secret unless the

performance of duty or legal provision requires otherwise. Members

of the public have a right to security and privacy, and information

obtained about them must not be improperly divulged

Integrity – a police officer will not engage in acts of corruption or

bribery, nor will an officer condone such acts by other police

officers. The public demands that the integrity of police officers be

61

above reproach. Police officers must therefore, avoid any conduct

that might compromise integrity and that undercut the confidence

reposed by the public, in the Police. Officers will refuse to accept

any gifts, presents, subscriptions, favours, gratuities or promises

that could be interpreted as seeking to cause the officer to refrain

from performing official responsibilities honestly and within the law.

Police officers must not receive private or special advantage from

their official status. Respect from the public cannot be bought; it

can only be earned and cultivated.

Cooperation with other Police Officers and Agencies – Police

officers will cooperate with all legally authorized agencies and their

representatives in the pursuit of justice. An officer or agency may be

one among many organizations that may provide law enforcement

services to a jurisdiction. It is imperative that a police officer assists

colleagues fully and completely with respect and consideration at all

times;

Personal Professional Capabilities - Police Officers will be

responsible for their own standard of professional performance and

62

will take every reasonable opportunity to enhance and improve their

level or knowledge and competence. Through study and experience,

a police officer can acquire the high level of knowledge and

competence that is essential for the efficient and effective

performance of duty. The acquisition of knowledge is a never ending

process of personal and professional development that should be

pursued constantly. (Source: www.npf.gov.ng)

63

CHAPTER FOUR

DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS

4.1 DATA PRESENTATION

This chapter focuses on the Data presentation, analysis and

findings of the work. The collected Data for this study will be

organized into frequency distribution table and percentages.

Concise descriptive analysis will be used in analyzing them.

The data presented in this chapter for a thorough analysis are

those collected from our primary source through structured

questionnaire.

Out of the 600(six hundred) responses expected only 520

representing 86.7% actually responded while 80 (eighty)

representing 13.3 failed to respond.

64

TABLE 4.1 Demographic characteristics of respondents

A. SEX

Categories No of responses percentage

Male 320 61.5

female 200 38.5

Total 520 100

Source: field work

From the above the Demographic characteristic of the respondents,

includes 320 males (61.5%) and 200 females (38.5%).The total of the

two categories of respondents is 520 respondents.

B. AGE

Categories 18-30 31-40 41-50 51-Above

No. of

responses

100 100 200 120

percentages 19.2% 19.2% 38.5% 23.1%

Source: field work

The Age characteristic of the respondents above, are between 18-30, 31-

40, 41-50 and 51-above.100 respondents represented the 18-30 age

category(19.2%), the same 100 respondents also represented 31-40 age

category(19.2%). While 200 respondents represented the 41-50 age

65

category (38.5%) and 51-Above category were represented by 120

respondents (23.1%).

C. MARITAL STATUS

Categories single married divorced separated widow

No. of responses 40 220 60 150 50

Percentage 7.6% 42.3% 11.5% 28.8% 9.6%

Source: field work

From the above the marital status category of the respondents includes 40

single persons (7.6%), 220 married persons (42.3%), 60 divorcee(11.5%),150

separated persons(28.8%) and 50 widows(9.6%).

D. EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATION

Source: field work

Categories FSLC O

LEVEL

NCE/OND HND/BSC PGD/MSC/PHD

No of

responses

50 50 60 200 160

percentages 9.6% 9.6% 11.5% 38.5% 30.8%

66

The educational qualification category includes FSLC, O LEVEL, NCE/OND,

HND/BSC and PGD/MSC/PHD. The number of respondents includes FSLC 50

respondents, O LEVEL 50 respondents, NCE/OND 60 respondents, HND/BSC

200 respondents and PGD/MSC/PHD 160 respondents.

In Summary:

Table 4.1 shows the demographic characteristics of the respondents.

Table A shows that 320(three hundred and twenty) respondents representing

61.5% are male while 200 (two hundred) respondent representing 38.5% are

female.

Table B shows the age distribution of the respondents as well as the number of

responses from each category and their percentage. Age group 18-30 has 100

(hundred) responses representing 19.2%, 31-40 has 100(hundred) responses

representing 38.5 while 51 and above got 200(two hundred) responses

representing 23.1% of the total responses.

Table C on the other hand, analyzed the marital status of the respondents

statistically. 380 (three hundred and eighty) respondent representing 73.1%

are married while 140 (one hundred and forty) respondents representing 26.9%

are single.

Table D on the other hand, shows the educational qualification of the

respondents. FSLC has 50 respondents representing 9.6% O/A level has 50

67

respondents representing 9.6%, NCE/OND got 60 respondents representing

11.5% HND/BSC has 200 respondents representing 38.5% while

PGD/M.sc/PhD has 160 respondents representing 30.8%.

QUESTION 1: Is the current insecurity in Nigeria on the high side?

TABLE 4.2

Responses No. of Responses Percentage (%)

Strongly agree 420 8O.7%

Agree 50 9.61%

Undecided 10 1.92%

Disagree 22 4.23%

Strongly Disagree 18 3.46%

Total 520 100%

Source: field work

From table 4.2 above, 90% of the respondents agree altogether that the current

insecurity in Nigeria is on the high side, while 1.92% of the respondents were

undecided and 7.69% respondents disagreed totally. From the Data been show

above it evident that the current insecurity is pervasively on the high side, thus

most of the respondents attribute this to the Boko haram insurgence and

68

inability of the Nigerian police to adequately provide needed security to lives

and properties despite the efforts been made by the government to sanitize the

police.

QUESTION 11: The Nigeria police force is effective in tackling the


TABLE 4.3


Strongly agree 6 1.15%

Agree 4 0.76%

Undecided 65 12.5%

Disagree 250 48.0%


Total 520 100%

Source: field work

From table 4.3, 86.4% of the respondents responded that the Nigerian police is

not effective in tackling the current insecurity in Nigeria, while 12.5%

respondents were undecided and 86.4% respondents disagreed totally. Since

86.4% constitute a large size of the respondents then it can be deduced that

69

the Nigerian police is ineffective in tackling the current insecurity in Nigeria.

Most of the respondents attributed the ineffectiveness of the Nigeria police to

inadequate crime fighting equipments, poor working condition and bad eggs in

the Nigerian police force. They opined that for the Nigerian police force to be

effective, more personnel should also be recruited in other to limit the ratio

between police personnel and the populace.

QUESTION 111: The Nigerian police force is empowered with

necessary crime fighting equipment

TABLE 4.4

Responses Respondents Percentage (%)

Strongly agreed 50 9.61%

Agreed 30 5.76%

Undecided 20 3.84%

Disagree 120 23.0%

Strongly disagree 300 57.6%

Total 520 100%

Source: field work

70

From the above table, 15.7% of the respondents agreed that the Nigerian police

is properly empowered to tackle the current insecurity in Nigeria, 23.0% of the

respondents were undecided, while 80.6% of the respondents did not agree to

the above question. This shows that the Nigerian police is not properly

empowered with necessary equipment to tackle the current insecurity in

Nigeria. The respondents had diverse view on this, but since majority carries

the vote, it can be deduced then that the Nigerian police force do not have the

needed equipment to tackle the current insecurity in Nigeria, this is as a result

of low funding and bad eggs in the Nigerian police force who hire some of this

equipments out to armed robbery gangs.

QUESTION IV: Insecurity is aggravated by the high level of poverty

and unemployment situation in Nigeria

TABLE 4.5



Agree 70 13.4%

Undecided 30 5.76%

Disagree 40 7.6%

Strongly disagree 130 25%

Total 520 100%

Source: field work

71

In the table above, 61.4% of the respondents responded positively that

insecurity in Nigeria is aggravated by the high level of poverty and

unemployment. 5.76% of the respondents were undecided, while 32.6% of the

total respondents responded negatively. Since 61.4% is greater than 32.6%, we

therefore conclude that insecurity is aggravated by poverty and unemployment.

However most of the respondents also agree to the fact that unemployment and

poverty have direct relation to insecurity but were indifferent to the remote

cause of boko-haram.

QUESTION V: The provision of social security programme for the

poor and the unemployed will reduce the scourge of insecurity in

Nigeria

TABLE 4.6



Agree 320 61.5%

Undecided 0 0%

Disagree 0 0%


Total 520 100%

Source: field work

72

The table above shows that 90.3% of the respondents agreed to the fact that

insecurity can be reduced by the provision of social security programme for the

poor and the unemployed, while 9.61% of the respondents did not agree with

the aforementioned. Since 90.3% is greater than 9.61%, we therefore conclude

that insecurity can be reduced by the provision of social security programme

for the poor and the unemployed. Similarly the respondents proposed a

monthly stipend for the unemployed and the poor. Also the respondents opined

that the provision of housing, education, water and power will go a long way in

quenching the sufferings of the masses.

QUESTION VI: The Nigerian government is doing its best in

providing necessary crime fighting equipment to the Nigerian police

TABLE 4.7



Agree 10 1.92%

Undecided 20 3.84%

Disagree 120 23.0%


Total 520 100%

Source: field work

73

From the above table, 3.84 % of the respondents were undecided, while 15.3%

of the respondents agreed that the government is doing its best in providing

necessary equipment for the police to tackle the current insecurity in Nigeria.

Furthermore 80.6% of the respondents did not agree to the above question.

This shows that the government is not doing its best to tackle the current

insecurity in Nigeria. However the respondents disclosed that the state

governments is doing more in the provision of security vans and other needed

equipments, that the Federal government should be vested with this

responsibility so as not to compromise security operations.

QUESTION VII: Does insecurity affect the socio-economic growth of

Nigeria?

TABLE 4.8



Agree 320 61.5%

Undecided 0 0%

Disagree 0 0%


Total 520 100

Source: field work

74

From table 4.8 above, the whole 100% of the respondents says that Insecurity

affects the socio-economic growth of Nigeria. Most of the respondents gave

insights on how notable companies have left Nigeria due to the pervasive

insecurity in the country, consequently this have affected the socio-economic

growth of Nigeria. Apart from the current insecurity the respondents also

attributed the slow rate of economic growth to the epileptic power supply in the

country.

QUESTION VIII: Will insecurity reduce if the Nigerian police

become effective?

TABLE 4.9



Agree 130 25%

Undecided 20 3.84%

Disagree 10 19.2%


Total 520 100%

Source: field work

75

From table 4.9 above, 73% of the respondents say that Insecurity will reduce if

the Nigerian police become effective. While 19% of the respondents were

undecided and 40.3% of the respondents disagreed. The respondents were

rational in giving insights towards this question they expressed confident that

the Nigerian police is not effective enough that is why the current insecurity in

the Country still persist, they however gave numerous reasons such as

corruption and poor working condition as substantive reasons for the

ineffectiveness in the Nigerian police force.

QUESTION IX: Is business activities in Nigeria affected by the

current insecurity?

TABLE 4.10



Agree 320 61.5%

Undecided 0 0%

Disagree 0 0%


Total 520 100

Source: field work

76

The Table above shows that 100% of the respondents answered positively

and agreed upon the fact that business activities are affected by the current

insecurity in Nigeria. The case of the south-east constitute a clear example

were numerous Banks and businesses have been closed down as a result of

incessant kidnapping and robberies. Aba a town in Abia –state, Onitsha in

Anambra –state and owerre in Imo state have been worst hit in recent times.

However some of these cities are now experiencing tight security because of the

strategic role they play in the economy of theses states.

QUESTION X: Is social activities in Nigeria affected by the current

insecurity?

TABLE 4.11



Agree 230 44.2%

Undecided 50 9.61%

Disagree 50 9.61%


Total 520 100%

Source: field work

77

In the table above, 67.2% of the respondents responded positively that social

activities in Nigeria are affected by the current insecurity and 9.61% of the

respondents were undecided, while 32.6% of the respondents disagreed totally.

Since 67.2% is greater than the rest. We therefore conclude that social

activities in Nigeria are affected by the current insecurity in Nigeria. Thus the

respondents how ever gave instances how night life in some cities have been

affected by insecurity, people no longer feel free to attend social activities that

may last till late in the night because if the pervasive insecurity in the country.

QUESTION XI: Can the Nigerian police compete favourable in terms

of effectiveness with other police of other developing countries?

TABLE 4.12



Agree 90 17.3%

Undecided 20 3.84%

Disagree 80 15.3%


Total 520 100%

Source: field work

78

In the table above, 61.4% of the respondents disagreed that the Nigerian police

cannot compete favourable in terms of effectiveness with other police of other

developing countries. 3.84% of the respondents were undecided, while 34.6% of

agreed otherwise. Since 61.4% is greater than the rest. We therefore conclude

that the Nigerian police cannot compete favourable in terms of effectiveness

with other police of other developing countries. Thus the respondent were of

view that the Nigerian police is faced with the enormous task of policing more

than 140million Nigerians, which is a large number compared to other

developing countries.

QUESTION XII: Is recruitment, placement and promotion in the

Nigerian police by merit?

TABLE 4.13


Strongly agree 0 0%

Agree 0 0%

Undecided 20 3.84%

Disagree 180 34.6%


Total 520 100

Source: field work

79

The Table above shows that 96.1% of the respondents disagreed upon the

fact that recruitment; placement and promotion in the Nigerian police is not

done by merit, 3.84% were undecided. A good example that was given by most

of the respondents was the last recruitment done by the Nigerian police which

was characterized with abnormally and lacked due process. However the

respondents had strong believe that the recruitment; placement and the

promotion process in the Nigerian police will get better.

QUESTION XIII: Businesses and other institutions closed shop

because of Nigerian’s insecurity challendge

TABLE 4.14



Agree 130 25%

Undecided 30 5.7%

Disagree 30 5.7%


Total 520 100%

Source: field work

80

From table 4.14 above, 73% of the respondents say that businesses and other

institutions closed shops because of Nigerian’s insecurity challendge. While

5.7% of the respondents were undecided and 21% of the respondents

disagreed. The respondents gave real examples of banks in Aba, Owerri and

Enugu that closed shops as a result of insecurity; they however gave numerous

reasons such as the inability of the Nigerian police to adequately secure lives

and properties of businesses.

QUESTION XIV: Is there any social protection programme for the

poor and the unemployed in Nigeria.

TABLE 4.15


Strongly agree 0 0%

Agree 0 0%

Undecided 0 0%

Disagree 250 48.0%


Total 520 100%

Source: field work

From table 4.15, 100% of the respondents responded that there is no social

protection programme for the poor and the unemployed. Most of the

81

respondents attribute this to greed and lack of care for the masses by the

Nigerian government. They opined that this has been one of the underlying

cause of insecurity in Nigeria.

QUESTION XV: The Nigerian police is equipped with adequate

forensic and other investigative tools for investigating crimes.

TABLE 4.16


Strongly agree 0 0%

Agree 0 0%

Undecided 0 0%

Disagree 490 94.2%


Total 520 100%

Source: field work

From table 4.16, 94.2% of the respondents responded that the Nigerian police

is not equipped with adequate forensic and other investigative tools for

investigating crimes. They opined that if the Nigerian government is sincere

enough to curb the menace of insecurity, it should start with providing the

82

Nigerian police with necessary forensic and other investigative tools for

investigating crimes. This will help boost crime detection in the country.

QUESTION XVI: The rate of poverty and unemployment is high

TABLE 4.17



Agree 330 44.2%

Undecided 0 0%

Disagree 10 1.9%


Total 520 100%

Source: field work

In the table above, 67.2% of the respondents responded agreed that the rate of

poverty and unemployment is high, while 5.74% disagreed. Since 67.2% is

higher than 5.74%, We therefore conclude that the rate of poverty and

unemployment is high. Thus the respondents were bittered because even in the

midst of plenty there is much suffering and dissatisfaction which is

perpetuated by only a few selfish opportuned ones.

83

QUESTION XVII: The Nigerian police force is equipped with

adequate data and data management system for criminals and ex

convicts.

TABLE 4.18



Agreed 50 9.61%

Undecided 0 0%

Disagree 120 23.0%


Total 520 100%

Source: field work

From the above table, 15.3% of the respondents agreed that the Nigerian police

is equipped with adequate data and data management system of criminals and

ex convicts, while 84.5% of the respondents did not agree to the above

question. This shows that the Nigerian police is not properly empowered with

adequate data and data management system of criminals and ex convicts. The

respondents had diverse view on this, but since majority carries the vote, it can

84

be deduced then that the Nigerian police force do not have the data to tackle

the current insecurity in Nigeria, this is as a result of low funding for capital

project such as this.

QUESTION XVIII: There is no comprehensive and sustainable

welfare policy for the average Nigerian police.

TABLE 4.19



Agreed 250 48.0%

Undecided 5 0.9%

Disagree 20 3.84%


Total 520 100%

Source: field work

From the above table, 92.2% of the respondents agreed that there is no

comprehensive and sustainable welfare policy for the average Nigerian police

officer, while 6.72% of the respondents did not agree to the above question.

This shows that the Nigerian police have no comprehensive and sustainable

85

welfare policy for the average Nigerian police officer; this is as a result of

underfunding and corruption in the Nigerian police force.

QUESTION IXX: Most of the personnel of the Nigerian police force

operate in an unhygienic environment.

TABLE 4.20



Agree 190 44.2%

Undecided 10 1.9%

Disagree 50 9.61%


Total 520 100%

Source: field work

In the table above, 67.2% of the respondents responded positively that most of

the personnel of the Nigerian police force operate in an unhygienic

environment. 1.9% of the respondents were undecided, while 19.2% of the

respondents disagreed totally. Since 67.2% is greater than the rest. We

therefore conclude that Most of the personnel of the Nigerian police force

86

operate in an unhygienic environment. Thus the respondents how ever gave

instances of the unhygienic nature of most police stations, with respect to lack

of adequate power supply, dilapidated structures and lack of some essential

office materials.

QUESTION XX: Have the Nigerian police been able to achieve

optimum result with the arms and ammunition giving to them?

TABLE 4.21



Agree 90 17.3%

Undecided 10 1.9%

Disagree 250 48.0%


Total 520 100%

Source: field work

In the table above, 77.0% of the respondents responded disagreed that the

Nigerian police have been able to achieve optimum result with the arms and

ammunition giving to them by the government. 1.9% of the respondents were

87

undecided, while 20.9% of the respondents agreed totally. Since 77.0% is

greater than the rest. We therefore conclude that the Nigerian police have not

been able to achieve optimum result with the arms and ammunition giving to

them. The respondents how ever gave instances of the Nigerian police hiring

out the scarce arms and ammunition to the dare devil arm robbers.

QUESTION XXI: Foreign direct investment (FDI) has been

hampered by insecurity in Nigeria.

TABLE 4.22



Agree 290 55.7%

Undecided 10 1.9%

Disagree 56 10.7%


Total 520 100%

Source: field work

In the table above, 78.5% of the respondents responded agreed that foreign

direct investment (FDI) has been hampered by insecurity in Nigeria. 1.9% of

88

the respondents were undecided, while 19.3% of the respondents disagreed.

Since 78.5% is greater than the rest. We therefore conclude the Foreign direct

investment (FDI) has been hampered by insecurity in Nigeria. The respondents

used themselves as examples and opined that they will not invest their

resources in a volatile environment, if they were foreigners.

TESTING OF HYPOTHESIS

In testing of hypothesis, four (4) distinct hypotheses were

postulated at the onset of the project. Having analyzed the data

collected, it is important to test our hypothesis in order to

determine whether they are verifiable in the case of causes and

effects of insecurity in Nigeria and the challenges and relevance of

the Nigerian police force as a panacea.

HYPOTHESIS 1

“That there is a significant relationship between the ineffectiveness

in the Nigerian police and the insecurity situation in the country”

Table 4.3, 4.9, 4.13, 4.19 and 4.20 confirm this hypothesis. Table

4.3 shows that the Nigerian police is not empowered with necessary

crime fighting equipments. Table 4.9 also shows that insecurity in

89

Nigeria will reduce if Nigerian police becomes effective, however

most respondent were of the view that the Nigerian police is not

doing enough security wise, also table 4.13 opined that

recruitment, placement and promotion in the Nigerian police is not

done on merit. Table 4.19 and 4.20 points to that the fact that the

Nigerian police operate in an unhygienic environment and that

there is no comprehensive welfare policy for the average Nigerian

police officer. In order words, there is a consensus among

respondents on the ineffectiveness in the Nigerian police and the

insecurity situation in the country.

HYPOTHESIS 2

“That shortage of crime fighting facilities by the Nigerian police has

direct link with the insecurity situation in the country”

Table 4.4, 4.7, 4.16, 4.18 and 4.21 shows that respondents

responded positively to this, the table therefore upheld the above

hypothesis. Table 4.4 and 4.7, shows that the government is not

doing enough to equip the Nigerian police with needed equipment.

While table 4.16 and 4.18 clearly opined that the Nigerian police

90

those not have adequate forensic and good data management

system to track criminals, similarly table 4.21 shows that the

Nigerian police have not been able to achieve much with their arms

and ammunition, thus some of this arms are either sold or hired

out to the men of the underworld.

HYPOTHESIS 3

“That Insecurity in the Nigerian society is aggravated by lack of

social protection programme for the poor and unemployed”

Table 4.5, 4.6, 4.15, 4.17, 4.19 proves this hypothesis. Table 4.5

and 4.6 give credence to the above hypothesis and shows that there

is a need to provide social protection programme to the poor and

the unemployed. Responses from the respondents show that

Insecurity in the Nigerian society is aggravated by lack of social

protection programme for the poor and unemployed. Also Table

4.15 and 4.17 shows that the rate of poverty and unemployment is

high and that there is no social protection programme for the poor

and the unemployed, apart from the pension that is been paid to

retired government workers, thus there is no meaning full provision

91

for citizens that did not work for the government. However Table

4.19 proves that the police should not also be left out of the social

protection programme in Nigeria because this will also help curb

the insecurity challendge in the country.

HYPOTHESIS 4

“That there is a significant relationship between Nigeria’s insecurity

and her slow socio-economic growth”

Table 4.8, 4.10, 4.11, 4.14, 4.22 upholds this hypothesis. In other

words, table 4.8 and 4.10 opined to the fact that there is a direct

relationship between Nigeria’s insecurity and her slow socio-

economic growth. Table 4.11 and 4.14 also attested to the fact that

businesses closed shop because of insecurity, examples of such

areas where businesses closed shop include Aba, Owerri and some

parts of Enugu, this however affected the socio-economic growth of

those areas and this places recorded loss of jobs. Table 4.22 proved

that foreign direct investment (FDI) is hampered by insecurity in

Nigeria. To this end, there is a consensus on the relationship

between Nigeria’s insecurity and her slow socio-economic growth.

92

4.2 FINDINGS

As part of efforts to unravel the main tenents of this work.

Our findings will be revealed under the following subheading in

order to ensure objectivity in the work.

• Causes and effects of insecurity in Nigeria

• Challenges confronting the Nigerian police force and its relevance in curbing insecurity in Nigeria

Causes and effects of insecurity in Nigeria

To tackle insecurity, a key starting point should be to

understand the causes of insecurity as well as to investigate their

sources of social disorder and instability. According to Andrew and

Kennedy (2003), it is necessary to distinguish between different

causes as each may require different remedy. Consequently, it is to

provide a holistic view to the suggestion or recommendations of

solutions, thus like in many other societies, the sources of

insecurity in Nigeria have been traced to a number of factors and

explained by different people. These factors have been classified or

grouped into external and internal factors. Beyond the external-

internal dichotomy, sources of insecurity have also been classified

93

as either remote or proximate and immediate sources/causal

factors. In Nigeria, the challenge is not so much about insecurity of

external sources, but rather that of internal sources. Hence, our

focus in this work is on the internal sources. We recognize that

some internal factors have been enhanced and strengthened by the

presence of external forces, but, there is no doubt that, if the

internal situations did not present themselves, the external forces

would be unable to infiltrate. We present the internal causes of

insecurity in Nigeria using the dichotomy of remote and immediate

factors.

Remote (Root) factors

• Lack of institutional capacity resulting in government

failure

This result from what Fukuyama (2004) described as the

corrosion or breakdown of institutional infrastructures. The

foundations of institutional framework in Nigeria are very shaky

and have provoked a deterioration of state governance and

democratic accountability, thus, paralyzing the existing set of

94

constraints including the formal and legitimate rules nested in the

hierarchy of social order. Evidently, as Igbuzor (2011) observed, the

state of insecurity in Nigeria is greatly a function of government

failure, or can be linked to government failure. This is manifested

by the incapacity of government to deliver public services and to

provide for basic needs of the masses. The lack of basic necessities

by the people in Nigeria has created a pool of frustrated people who

are ignited easily by any event to be violent. The argument here, is

that, Nigeria has the resources to provide for the needs of its people,

but corruption in public offices at all levels has made it impossible

for office holders to focus on the provision of basic needs for the

people. Hazen and Horner (2007) described the Nigerian situation

as a ‘Paradox of Plenty’. A situation where the country earns a great

deal of revenue through oil sales, but fails to use these earnings to

meet the needs of its people and to develop infrastructure as well as

the economy. When these situations exist, crime rate is bound to

rise and the security of lives and properties cannot be guaranteed.

95

• Pervasive material inequalities and unfairness

Greater awareness of disparities in life chances is a major root

cause of insecurity in Nigeria. This is a rooted general perception of

inequality and unfairness which has resulted in grievance by a

large number of people. This perception stems from the perception

of marginalization by a section of the people, government

development policies and political offices and this has become a

primary source of disaffection and resentment.

As noted by Onuoha (2011) a large number of the Nigeria

population is frustrated and have lost hope, especially the youths,

and have now emerged to express their disillusion about the

pervasive state of inequality.

• Ethno-religious conflicts

These have arisen from distrust among various ethnic groups

and among the major religions in the country. Ibrahim and Igbuzor

(2002), Hazen and Horner, (2007), Salawu (2010) and Igbuzor,

(2011) identified ethno-religious conflict as a major source of

insecurity in Nigeria. Ethno-religious conflict was defined as a

96

situation in which the relationship between members of one ethnic

or religious group and another of such group in a multi-ethnic and

multi-religious society is characterized by lack of cordiality, mutual

suspicion and fear, and a tendency towards violent confrontation.

Frequent and persistent ethnic conflicts and religious clashes

between the two dominant religions (Islam and Christianity),

present the country with a major security challenge. In all parts of

Nigeria, there exist ethno-religious conflicts and these according to

Ibrahim and Igbuzor (2002) have emerged as a result of new and

particularistic forms of political consciousness and identity often

structured around ethno-religious identities. The claim over scarce

resources, power, land, chieftaincy, local government, councils,

control of markets and sharia among other trivial issues have

resulted in large scale killings and violence amongst groups in

Nigeria (Adagba, et al, 2012).

• Conflict of Perceptions between the public and government

Over the years, there has been a standing mismatch between

public and government perceptions. A situation in Which often

result in the reactions of the public to the excesses of the military

97

regimes which governed Nigeria and has continued after the end of

military regimes and created sensitivity by those in government at

public intrusion in matters of state. Frequently, on any given

incident, public and government reactions diverge. In such

situations, the media has never helped matters. Media practices

have always focused on the dramatic and the spectacular view of

the given situations. Such reports have always been capitalized on

in sophisticated ways by various groups, some of which are violent

to incite public clamor for a change and immediate reaction through

strategically provocative violence. The point here is that the

approach of media report over the years has contributed to

exacerbate insecurity or perception of insecurity in Nigeria.

President Jonathan alluded to this situation when he made

reference to the popular axiom that the pen is mightier than the

sword. In his statement, “The sword is used to kill and destroy but

what we use the pen to do is also very critical. When you have a

society with these unending political conflicts, it is there on the

media whether print, electronic or social media and this brings a lot

of insecurity to the system” (Bello and Oyedele, 2012).

98

• Weak Security system

This results from inadequate equipment for the security arm of

government, both in weaponry and training. This is in addition to

poor attitudinal and behavioral disposition of security personnel. In

many cases, security personnel assigned to deal with given security

situations lack the expertise and equipment to handle the

situations in a way to prevent them from occurring. And even when

these exist, some personnel get influenced by ethnic, religious or

communal sentiment and are easily swallowed by their personal

interest to serve their people, rather than the nation. Thus, instead

of being national watch dogs and defending national interest and

values, and protecting people from harm by criminals, they soon

become saboteurs of government effort, by supporting and fuelling

insecurity through either leaking vital security information or aiding

and abetting criminals to acquire weapons or to escape the long

arm of the law.

99

• Loss of Socio-cultural and communal value system

The traditional value system of the Nigerian society like most

African societies is characterized by such endearing features as

collectivism, loyalty to authority and community, truthfulness,

honesty, hard work, tolerance, love for others, Mutual harmony and

coexistence, and identification of individual with one another

(Clifford, 2009). Other distinctive features of Nigerian traditional

society are abhorrence for theft and high value for live. Stealing was

considered extremely disgraceful and lives were also highly valued.

• Porous Borders

One major immediate factor which has enhanced insecurity in

Nigeria is the porous frontiers of the country, where individual

movements are largely untracked. The porosity of Nigeria’s borders

has serious security implications for the country. Given the porous

borders as well as the weak and security system, weapons come

easily into Nigeria from other countries. Small Arms and Light

Weapons proliferation and the availability of these weapons have

enabled militant groups and criminal groups to have easy access to

100

arms (Hazen and Horner, 2007). Nigeria is estimated to host over 70

percent of about 8 million illegal weapons in West Africa (Edeko,

2011). Also, the porosity of the Nigerian borders has made it

possible for unwarranted influx of migrants from neighboring

countries such as Republic of Niger, Chad and Republic of Benin

(Adeola and Oluyemi, 2012). These migrants which are mostly

young men are some of the perpetrators of crime in the country.

• Rural /Urban Drift

The migration of jobless youths from rural areas to urban centers is

also one of the causes of insecurity in Nigeria (Onuoha, 2011).

Nigeria is one of the countries in the world with very high

rural/urban drift. Most urban areas in Nigeria have grown beyond

their environmental carrying capacities and existing infrastructure

and this has resulted to increased poor quality of the living

conditions in urban areas in Nigeria (Adedeji and Eziyi, 2010). Out

of frustration, these youths are drawn into crime.

101

• Social Irresponsibility of Companies

Corporate social irresponsibility is a set of actions that

increases externalized costs and/or promotes distributional

conflicts (Kotchen and Moon, 2011). Companies engage in corporate

social responsibility in order to offset corporate social

irresponsibility. The rise of terror groups in some parts of the

country is directly related to the neglect of social responsibility by

companies to the community where they are operating. This was

the case of the Niger Delta crisis.

• Unemployment/Poverty

As a result of the high level of unemployment and poverty

among Nigerians, especially the youths, they are adversely attracted

to violent crime (Adagba, et al, 2012). Nwagbosa (2012) argued that

the failure of successive administrations in Nigeria to address

challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequitable distribution of

wealth among ethnic nationalities is one of the major causes of

insecurity in the country.

102

• Terrorism

At the most proximate and least disputable level, terrorism is

the most fundamental source of insecurity in Nigeria today, and its

primary bases and sources of support have generally been located

in religious fanaticism and intolerance particularly in Islam

dominated states of Nigeria. Terrorism which is a global

phenomenon where no one is safe was defined by Sampson and

Onuoha (2011) as “the premeditated use or threat of use of violence

by an individual or group to cause fear, destruction or death,

especially against unarmed targets, property or infrastructure in a

state, intended to compel those in authority to respond to the

demands and expectations of the individual or group behind such

violent acts”. Terrorism in Nigeria is an Islamic insurgence with a

political undertone by a faceless group based in the Northern region

of the country, which called itself Boko Haram, which takes into

account the legitimate political, social and economic grievances of

the Northern population. Nigeria has lost up to 1000 lives in the

North since 2009 to the insurgency of this infamous Islamic sect,

Boko Haram. Many theories have explained the terrorism challenge

103

in Nigeria both in terms of personal motives of the terrorists, the

underlying causes of terrorism, and the values of the communities

that host the terrorism and sustain it. The theories commonly

linked terrorism in Nigeria to religious, socio-political, economic and

cultural parameters. Impliedly, while terrorism may originate in

Islamic fanaticism, it is now driven as much by other factors such

as inequalities within the country and lack among Nigerians, in

terms of livelihood (economic) resources, education or access to

education and good values. Consequently, the factors above are

succinctly summarized in the views expressed by foreign observers

about the causes of insecurity in Nigeria. Kufour (2012) located the

sources of insecurity in Nigeria in four factors: political conflicts;

unbalanced development that involves horizontal inequalities;

religious/ethnic distrust; and leadership failure.

Furthermore, the effect of the Insecurity situation Nigeria can

better be felt in the social economic fabrics of the society in respect

to Business Activities. In this work, we contend that when there is

wide spread insecurity, it could affect business investment, the

104

entire business organization or some aspects of its operations which

include production, marketing, finance and human resource (H/R).

The implication of the insecurity situation in Nigeria for

business activities can be viewed from two broad perspectives, viz,

the perspective of potential business investment and the perspective

of existing business enterprise.

• Potential Business Investment

Insecurity discourages investment as it makes investment

unattractive to business people. This is because it increases the

cost of doing business either through direct loss of goods and

properties or the cost of taking precautions against business risks

and uncertainty. These costs could have a negative impact on

business development and progress. The thick arrow connecting the

insecurity environment and business investment means that

insecurity can be a huge blockade to business investment. Ujah

and Eboh (2006) reported a study by World Bank on investment

climate in nine African countries in which it was found that 29% of

business operators in Africa and 36% in Nigeria perceived

105

insecurity as a major constraint on investment. This situation has

the damaging consequence of giving signal to the international

community that Nigeria is not a safe and secure place and as such

not suitable for investment and business activities. In that case,

foreign firms and entrepreneurs would decline to invest and this is

particularly important in view of the efforts being made to create the

desired atmosphere to attract foreign direct investment. So, it is a

strong disincentive to business investment as it scares away

potential investors. This is because such environments or

economies are considered high risk zones due to the high level of

uncertainty about the safety of investment and lives of the

managers and their staff.

Evidently, there has been a decline of foreign direct investment

in Nigeria. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is usually investment

targeted at building new factories or investing in actual production

activities which create jobs. Foreign investors in the Nigerian

economy are moving away from starting new companies or

production plants and are buying up shares of quoted companies

instead. This can largely be attributed to the state of insecurity in

106

the country besides the issue of lack of regular electricity supply,

which itself is a source of economic insecurity in the country.

• Existing Business Enterprise

The Nigeria insecurity situation can, and in many cases,

actually halted business operations during the periods of violence

and also caused the outright closure of many enterprises especially

in the areas or zones where incidences of insecurity is rife and are

on daily occurrence, in a bid to protect lives of operators and

business property. Generally, if there is no peace and security, it is

extremely difficult for businesses to survive. Ordinary citizens

having small and medium scale businesses cannot open shops for

business transactions. Insecurity everywhere is a risk factor which

business owners and managers dread and wish to avoid by

relocating their businesses elsewhere. In the case of Nigeria, there

is also evidence of some businessmen and manufacturing

companies having to relocate particularly from the North in recent

time, to other peaceful parts of the country (Nwagbosa (2012)). Non

indigenes especially Igbo’s and Yoruba’s have to return to their

home states before they are killed by Boko Haram (Suleiman, 2012).

107

In addition, some firms may shift their operations to other countries

like Ghana which is deemed to be more peaceful. Apart from

outright closure of a business enterprise, an existing business can

also be affected in the four functional areas. These include

production, marketing, finance and human resource.

• Production

Business enterprises rely on availability and regular supply of

raw materials for production. Security problems can cut off supply

of such raw materials. When a firm is unable to access raw

materials needed for production due to insecurity in the source, it

can disrupt production activities. There is no doubt that businesses

whose source of raw materials are in the North would be faced with

that threat, if the insecurity situation becomes worse.

• Marketing

It is not only that a business enterprise must get raw materials

for production; it also must dispose off their output. Insecurity

limits market availability. In addition to the fact that areas pruned

to insecurity will not be attractive for marketers from outside, there

108

will be restrictions on mobility. Besides, Migration of people from

the areas to other parts of the country or outside as a result of

insecurity will affect the customer base of businesses operating in

the environment where the insecurity exists. Nigeria is currently

experiencing this situation in many parts of the country especially

in the terrorist fields of the northern part of Nigeria.

• Finance

Insecurity also increases security spending by business

organizations. This emanates from the cost of taking precautions

and payment for private security services. From general

observation, most business organizations operating in Nigeria

maintain security personnel as well as security infrastructure in

order to ensure the security of their properties and the lives of their

staff and customers. It could also result to the loss of capital

through burning of business buildings and properties. Beyond

these, it also limits sources of fund to the business.

109

• Human Resource

When there is a high level of insecurity in a particular area or

region, there will be migration of people which could lead to a

dearth in skilled labor. Insecurity affects the general human

security of the people as the situation promotes fear, while at the

same time limiting the peoples’ ability to work effectively. There are

also circumstances when employees of a business enterprise

become victims of attack and the firm losses its experienced staff

through death or injury. As such, workers resign to run away from

such areas and fresh people do not want to go there for

employment. The implication is manpower shortage for the

business which ultimately affects the success and survival of the

business. This exerts pressure on the business for manpower at

any cost. Due to the impact of insecurity on businesses, we support

the position of Ujah and Eboh (2006) that the government must

ensure the availability of public security at all times. This is crucial

because if businesses fold up and investors are no longer

forthcoming, then the future is bleak.

110

Furthermore the effects of insecurity is also most felt in

Sustainable Development of Nigeria, thus Insecurity has been

identified as one of the obstacles to sustainable development. As

noted by Akpobibibo (2003) the principle behind sustainability is to

make life meaningful to all. Therefore, security is crucial for

sustainable development. In the absence of security, economic

growth and development cannot be sustained as it destroys

economic, human and social capital. Under conditions of peace and

security, people and government can direct their efforts and

resources towards improving human life, This is why the

importance and implications of the security situation in Nigeria

have been emphasized by a number of world leaders, both in words

and in action, and the need for the Nigerian government to brace up

to the challenge. For instance, the former president of Ghana, John

Kufour stated that the bane of Nigeria development is insecurity

(Kufour, 2012). He observed that insecurity situation in Nigeria is

costing Nigeria its leadership role in Africa in terms of development.

As a result, it is unable to claim its rightful position as ‘giant of

Africa’ from which other African nations could benefit or copy as a

111

role model and that “if there is no security, there is no liberty, and if

there is no liberty, life is not meaningful and society reverts back to

the law of the jungle and man’s primary objective of forming a state

is defeated”. To drive further the relationship between the security

situation in Nigeria and her development, Eunice Reddick has also

acknowledge the insecurity situation in Nigeria as the major factor

hindering Nigeria’s development efforts. As she put it, “Security is a

prerequisite for successful development in Nigeria”. She observed

that prevalent pervasive insecurity in the country, threatens to

erode the country’s economic progress (Oluwarotimi, 2012).

Consequently, more sustainable development initiatives regarding

insecurity are needed in Nigeria and this is imperative, since

security is central to development, and the national transformation

agenda of the current administration may not be achieved if there is

no solution to the menace of insecurity ravaging the country.

Challenges confronting the Nigerian police force and its

relevance in curbing insecurity in Nigeria

The major problem confronting the Nigerian police force is it

continued inability to effectively perform its duty of preventing

112

crimes. This basic dilemma stems from the fact crime fighting needs

skills, clear, and unequivocal command, the inability to adhere to

the criminal laws and procedures, insulations from political

pressures, investigating control over the community and

unquestioned honesty (James 1967).

Furthermore, other challenges include the following:

(a) Inadequate manpower in terms of quantity but indeed more of

quality;

(b) Inadequate funding. Has been funded only for mere existence

rather than performance;

(c) Poor crimes and operational information management including

inaccurate recording and collation, poor storage and retrieval,

inadequate analysis and infrequent publications of criminal

statistics.

(d) Poor remunerations and unimpressive conditions of service;

(e) Inadequate initial and on-the job training. Deficient or obsolete

syllabus which places too much emphasis on law enforcement and

order maintenance without adequate liberal and broad training that

can illuminate the nature and source of law and criminality;

113

(f) Poor resource management;

(g) Inadequate logistics, arms and ammunition, uniforms and

accoutrements, telecommunications and transportation facilities in

terms of quality and quantity;

(h) Inadequate office and residential accommodation;

(i) Inhuman conditions under which suspects are held in Police

cells;

(j) Un-hygienic working environment;

(k) Limited contacts or relationship with citizens outside law

enforcement and order maintenance functions;

(l) Indiscipline, involvement in crimes or collusion with criminals;

(m) Lack of integrity; Absurd attitudinal chemistry (must change);

(n) Perversion of the course of justice (i.e. procuring or supplying

false evidence, tampering with exhibits and false accusations);

(o) Poor knowledge of law and disregard for human rights;

(p) Corruption and extortion. Reiner (2000)

This is why the spate of kidnapping, armed robbery and

terrorism have overtime persisted in Nigeria. Consequently,

Virtually all the state police commands rely on the assistance of

114

state governments for the provision of vehicles, communications

and necessary logistics, thus the personnel of the police do not have

necessary logistics to work with in all the states of the country

because there are no sufficient vehicles to perform its statutory

duties of protection of life and property, maintenance of law and

order, apprehension of offenders and enforcement of all laws with

which the force is directly charged with. These have constituted a

serious bane on the overall organizational effectiveness of the

Nigerian police force and have also undermine the relevance of the

police force in adequately policing Nigerians.

4.3 DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS

The statutory duties of the Nigerian police force as spelt out in

section 194(2)(b) of the 1979 constitution as enacted in section 4 of

the police act 1967 as amended by act no 23 of 1979 charges the

police among other duties, the duty of investigation, prevention and

detection of crime. As a basic general duty of the Nigerian police,

prevention of crimes and provision of security appears to be a

simple expression applied to its real sense, thus prevention of crime

is fostered by good and efficient crime investigation and detective

115

ability and actions, the prompt apprehension and prosecution of

offenders, produces repressive and deterrent effects on habitual or

potential offenders (membere, 1978). Crime prevention therefore

presents to the police officer perhaps the greatest challenge which

may confront him in the performance of his duties. The inability of

the police to effectively tackle insecurity in Nigeria is traceable to

low funding of the force, inadequate logistics, poor motivation and

remuneration, lack of modern communication facilities and crime

fighting equipment, inadequate and deplorable barrack

accommodation, indifference, corruption, police brutality and lack

of public support. Added to this, the image of the Nigerian police

has been seriously damaged with the public knowledge that high

ranking police officers are involved in abating and aiding crimes in

Nigeria, thus the issues of crime should not be left to the police

alone such factor like motivation, good working conditions

inadequate crime fighting facilities, good salaries and logistics are

positively related to reducing insecurity in Nigeria.

Accordingly Gbenga and Augoye (2011), perceive the cause of

insecurity to be as a result of the malignant environment dominated

116

by man’s insensitivity to man, thus many people in authority take

advantage of their positions to force down policies that impoverish

‘the many’ in so much as it benefits them and a few others.

Furthermore, the inability of the managers of Nigeria's security

apparatus to address the country's security challenges raises yet

another critical question on the preparedness of Nigeria to attain

desired political, social and economic heights in the year 2020. It

further poses serious threats to the unity and corporate existence of

Nigeria as a sovereign state. Therefore, addressing the security

challenges in Nigeria ultimately requires not only the causes of

threats but also a critical evaluation of the performance of security

agencies in handling the security situation in Nigeria and

effectiveness of the security agencies in Nigeria to perform their

statutory responsibilities.

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CHAPTER FIVE

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDTION

5.1 SUMMARY

Nigeria's security concerns and threat perception emanated

from many quarters. Over the years, the inability of the government

to address the root causes of dissatisfaction, anger and agitation

among various groups in the country resulted to serious security

challenges confronting the contemporary Nigerian state. This ugly

situation has not only denied the Nigerian government enormous

revenues, but also led to serious problems such as unemployment,

infrastructural decay, poor health status, poor image of Nigeria at

regional and global scene, low participation of investors in Nigeria's

economic development, relocation of existing investors to peaceful

states in Nigeria, among others. These problems are traceable to

internal security challenges in Nigeria occasioned by the activities of

militias in Niger Delta region, kidnapping in the South-East, the

Islamic extremists in Jos crisis, Boko Haram group, armed robbery

in many parts of the country, bunkering of Nigeria's oil outlets by

saboteurs, among others. In consideration of the consequences of

118

these challenges on the economy of the Nigerian state and to save

the country from the brink of total collapse, the need for an effective

Nigerian police force is needed despite various shortcomings which

includes absence of comprehensive and sustainable welfare policy;

inadequate and improper budgetary allocations by government; and

corruption both in the budgeting and expenditure processes of the

Nigerian police force.

From the foregoing, it is obvious that there is still a long way to

go in other to rid the Nation of insecurity. The onus is on the

government to work hand in hand and also aid the Nigerian police

force with more human, financial and material resources as well as

monitor and ensure the optimal utilization of these resources.

5.2 CONCLUSION

In conclusion, our study on the Causes and effects of

insecurity in Nigeria: The challenges and relevance of the Nigerian

police force as a panacea has shown that the Nigerian police though

statutorily empowered to fight insecurity, has been highly limited by

Inadequate manpower in terms of quantity and quality; Inadequate

funding, Poor crimes and operational information management

119

including inaccurate recording and collation, poor storage and

retrieval, inadequate analysis and infrequent publications of

criminal statistics, Poor remunerations and Un-hygienic working

environment. Even with these various limitations, the Nigerian

police force has also made some effort in redeeming her image in

some instances, but it is crystal clear that its operations were

affected and rendered incredible by the spate of pervasive

kidnapping and the boko haram criminality, which saw the army

coming in to act on what is statutorily within the purview of the


One can conclude that the relevance of the Nigerian police

force in relation to the security of the country can be questioned

and is incapacitated by the inability of the government to address

root causes of insecurity and proffer solution to these root causes.

5.3 RECOMMENDATION

After careful analyses of the insecurity challenges confronting

the country today, there is a great consensus among analysts that

the country is currently in a state of siege, not by acts being

perpetrated by Boko Haram, but also by other issues and

120

developments. Those who hold this view have called on government

to be very careful and tactful in dealing with these issues and

developments in the country, so that things do not spiral out of

control. They contended that so many issues tackled by government

rather than assuage the hurt of Nigerians increased it, citing the

fuel subsidy removal strike and protests which they claimed

government mismanaged.

Therefore, a cardinal responsibility of any government properly

so-called is the control of the instruments of coercion and provision

of security, which by statutory provisions is in the purview of the

Nigerian police. The Nigerian police having been saddled with this

responsibility must be able to secure the life and property of the

average Nigerian. It is on this basis that the following

recommendations are made:

i. The act of policing should not be left in the hands of the Nigerian

police force alone. States and other organs like the traditional

institution, the clergy and civil organizations should be actively

involved.

121

ii. The Police Force should be well equipped to perform its functions

well and in compliance with the rule of law.

iii. Presently, the police are highly and visibly subservient to the

rich and powerful politicians. Policies should be put in place to

withdraw police men attached to these politicians.

iv. Sensitization exercise should be taken as a priority in addressing

relationship that exists between the public and personnel of the


v. As a matter of urgency, police personnel who are no longer

productive as well as those who are corrupt should be retrenched

and more skilled youths be injected into the system.

Finally, President Jonathan has a duty to restore security and

maintain the country’s unity. He should borrow a leaf from the

strategy his predecessor, President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, used to

deal with the Nigeria Delta Insurgency. He should seek out

competent persons and set up new security strategies to deal with

the current pockets of attacks. He should also exercise caution in

dealing with foreign interests, to avoid being drawn into a terror

orbit far greater than our present predicament.

122

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WEBSITES

Clifford, C. (2009) New Beginnings, Retrieved from: www.cliffordchance.com/content/.../cliffordchance/.../new beginning

www.npf.gov.ng

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Department of Public Administration,

University of Nigeria Nsukka,

Nsukka.

17th of June, 2013

Dear respondent,

REQUEST TO FILL QUESTIONNAIRE

I am an M.sc student of the Department of public

administration. I am carrying out a research on the Causes and

effects of insecurity in Nigeria: The challenges and relevance of the

Nigerian police force as a panacea, as part of the requirement for

the award of M.sc in public administration.

You are kindly requested to fill the attached questions as

sincerely as possible. The research is purely for academic purpose

and your information will be treated confidentially.

Thanks for your cooperation

Yours faithfully,

Okarah Christian Ifeanyi

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QUESTIONNARIE

Instruction: please tick in the appropriate boxes below to indicate your answer to the question.

SECTION A:

Background information

1. Sex- Male Female

2. Age-18-30

31-40

41-50

51 and above

3. Marital status-single married Divorced

Seperated Widow

4. Educational qualification

FSLC

O/A level

NCE/OND

HND/BSC

Post graduate dip/masters/PhD

5. Religion -Christian Muslim ATR

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SECTION B

1. Is the current insecurity in Nigeria on the high side?

Strongly agree Agree Undecided Disagree

Strongly disagree

2. Is the Nigeria police force effective in tackling the insecurity in

Nigeria?


Strongly disagree

3. Is the Nigerian police force empowered with necessary crime

fighting equipment?


Strongly disagree

4. Is insecurity aggravated by the high level of poverty and

unemployment situation in Nigeria?


Strongly disagree

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5. Can the provision of social security programme for the poor and

the unemployed reduce the scourge of insecurity in Nigeria?


Strongly disagree

6. Is the government doing its best in providing necessary crime

fighting equipment to the Nigerian police?


Strongly disagree

7. Does insecurity affect the socio-economic growth of Nigeria?


Strongly disagree

8. Will insecurity reduce if the Nigerian police become effective?


Strongly disagree

9. Is business activities in Nigeria affected by the current

insecurity?


Strongly disagree

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10. Is social activities in Nigeria affected by the current insecurity?


Strongly disagree

11. Can the Nigerian police compete favourable in terms of

effectiveness with other police of other developing countries?


Strongly disagree

12. Is recruitment, placement and promotion in the Nigerian police

by merit?


Strongly disagree

13. Businesses and other institutions closed shop because of

Nigerian’s insecurity challendge?


Strongly disagree

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14. Is there any social protection programme for the poor and the

unemployed in Nigeria?


Strongly disagree

15. The Nigerian police is equipped with adequate forensic and

other investigative tools for investigating crimes?


Strongly disagree

16. The rate of poverty and unemployment is high?


Strongly disagree

17. The Nigerian police force is equipped with adequate data and

data management system for criminals and ex convicts?


Strongly disagree

18. There is no comprehensive and sustainable welfare policy for

the average Nigerian police?


Strongly disagree

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19. Most of the personnel of the Nigerian police force operate in an

unhygienic environment?


Strongly disagree

20. Have the Nigerian police been able to achieve optimum result

with the arms and ammunition giving to them?


Strongly disagree

21. Foreign direct investment (FDI) has been hampered by

insecurity in Nigeria?


Strongly disagree

faculty of social sciences - university of nigeria

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