Nigerian Human Rights Activist, Fidelis Onakpoma, has called on President Bola Tinubu to establish a framework for addressing police brutality and civilian hostility.

Onakpoma made this call in a statement made available to journalists on Monday, explaining that four years since Nigerians made a bold statement on issues of police brutality — the #EndSARS, experts and activists say justice has not been served and brutality by security agencies have continued, mostly away from the public eye.

According to him, the failure to actualise real police reforms makes young people “afraid to step out of their homes, in a bid to not become victims of torture, extortion, harassment, and extrajudicial killings.”

Onakpoma who is also an international Relations Specialist, called on Tinubu to implement comprehensive police reforms, emphasising the need for enhanced community policing initiatives to promote collaboration between law enforcement and local communities.

He narrated that Nigeria with its complex history and diverse population, faces significant challenges in maintaining peaceful police-civilian relations, stressing that police brutality and civilian hostility are two interconnected issues that require a nuanced discussion.

He said, “The excessive or unreasonable force used by law enforcement officers, resulting in extrajudicial killings, torture and brutality, extortion, and bribery, has continued to undermine the Presidency’s compliance with human rights laws.

“Nigerians have reported numerous cases of police shootings and killings, often without justification; victims have alleged physical and psychological abuse during detention and interrogation; police officers have been accused of demanding bribes and extorting money from civilians, and to date no meaningful police reforms.

“The negative experience between Nigerians and law enforcement have fostered deep-seated distrust, leading to intensified citizen-police animosity, wherein citizens are increasingly attacking officers viewed as instruments of oppression, and in some cases, civilians have retaliated against police officers, leading to injuries and deaths.

“Perceived police brutality contributes to civilian hostility, posing challenges to effective community policing, and these factors mutually reinforce detrimental narratives, hindering constructive exchange.

“Successive governments will assume and relinquish power, yet substantial achievements remain elusive on these pressing matters.”

While Nigerians look forward to President Tinubu’s positive response, I encourage young individuals to promote community policing, engage in harmonious coexistence, and respect the rule of law.