7 - Sustaining a Tradition of Policing Through Alienation: An Assessment of Recruitment and Training in the Colonial and Postcolonial Nigeria Police
Corresponding Author(s) : Adoyi F. Onoja
Afrika Zamani,
No. 13-14 (2006): Afrika Zamani: An Annual Journal of African History
Abstract
The Nigeria police force is problem-endowed. These problems are structural and institutional. Of these, alienation stands out as the most fundamental. Aliena- tion as a policy of policing in Nigeria dates back to the colonial period. The need for a police force was borne out of the desire to protect the person and property of the colonizing authority and to impress on the inhabitants the might of the occupying power. In the post-independence period, this requirement was slightly modified to incorporate the interests of the indigenous property-owning class. To ensure this, the mode of recruitment and training has retained the traits inherited from the colonial period. This article examines the colonial and contem- porary recruitment and training programmes as the basis of alienation. It posits that the recruitment and training programme estranged the police from the pub- lic and the public from the police. This has produced a hostile police-public relationship while at the same time ensuring that the interests of the ruling class are protected.
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- Adisa, J., 1999, ‘A New Nigerian Police Image: Its Role in the Next Millennium’, Lecture delivered at a Seminar Organized for Assistant Inspectors-General and Commissioners of Police by the Nigeria Police Force, International Conference Centre, Abuja, 19–20 October.
- Ahire, P.T., 1985, ‘Policing Colonization: The Emergence and Role of the Police in Colonial Nigeria 1860–1960’, Dissertation submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Cambridge.
- Alemika, E.E.O. and Chukwuma, I.C., 2000, Police-Community Violence in Nigeria. Lagos: CLEEN and NHRC.
- Anderson, J., 1979, Policing Freedom: A Commentary on the Dilemmas of Policing in Western Democracies., London: Macdonald & Evans.
- Argyle, M., 1987, The Social Psychology of Work. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books. Bowden, T., 1978, Beyond the Limits of Law. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books.
- Bunyard, R.S., 1978, Police: Organization and Command. London: Macdonald & Evans.
- Clinard, M.B. and Abbot, D.J., 1973, Crime in Developing Countries: A Comparative Perspective. New York: John Wiley.
- Crowder, M., 1962, The Story of Nigeria. London: Faber and Faber. Group interview, 2004, Plateau State Police Command, 20 June.
- Group interview, 2004 Taraba State Police Command, 30 July. Group interview 2005, Police Training School, Jos.
- Institute for the Study of Labour and Economic Crises, 1982, The Iron Fist and the Velvet Glove: An Analysis of the U.S. Police. San Francisco: Crime and Social Justice Associates.
- Interview, 2004, Lucas Lumbi, Keffi, 15 April Interview, 2004, Police Training School, Jos. Interview, 2005, Police College, Kaduna.
- Interview, 2006, Nasarawa State Police Command, Lafia. Jeffries, C., 1952, The Colonial Police. London: Max Parrish.
- Jike, V.T., ed., 2003, The Nigeria Police and the Crisis of Law and Order. Lagos: NISS.
- Leonard, V.A., 1980, Fundamentals of Law Enforcement: Problems and Issues. New York: West Publishing.
- Killingray, D., 1986, ‘The Maintenance of Law and Order in British Colonial Africa’, African Affairs, 85, 340.
- Odekunle, F., 1979, ‘The Nigeria Police Force: The Preliminary Assessment of Functional Performance’, International Journal of the Sociology of Law, 7.
- NAI CSO 1/1/4, Letter from Denton to Rippon, 2 August 1893. Letter from Governor H.S. Freeman to Duke of Newcastle, 31 December 1863.
- NAI CSO 26 11814,Volume II, Annual Report Police Force (ARPF), 1937.
- NAI CSO 26 31861, Secretary of the Northern Provinces to the Chief Secretary in Lagos, 11 March 1937.
- NAK Josprof 2/25/3A/1933, Plateau Province Annual Report 1932 (Departmental) Police 1932, 1933, 1934, 1937, 1938, 1939.
- NAK Makprof Pol/9/Volume 1, Nigeria Police Policy, Recruitment of Police 1937–61.
- NAK Makprof 750, Police Detachment Benue Province, Annual Reports 1934–1938.
- NAK Makprof 750, Volume II Police Detachment Benue Province, Annual Report 1944–47.
- Newswatch, 2002, ‘Our Bosses Cheat Us’, Lagos: Newswatch Communications, 18 February.
- Nigeria Police Standing Orders, 1932. Lagos: Government Printer. PRO London CO 147/2, McCoskry to Russell, 6 January 1862.
- Rotimi, K., 2001, The Police in a Federal State: The Nigerian Experience. Ibadan: College Press.
- Sinclair, J.M., Wilkes, G.A. and Krebs, W.A., 2002, Definitive English Dictionary. London: HarperCollins.
- Souryal, S.S., 1997, Police Administration and Management. St Paul, MN: West Publishing.
- Tamuno, T.N., 1970, The Police in Modern Nigeria 1861–1965: Origin, Development and Role. Ibadan: Ibadan University Press.
- Tamuno, T.N., Bashir, I.K., Alemika, E. E. O. and Akano, A. O., eds, 1993, Policing Nigeria. Lagos: Malthouse Press.
References
Adisa, J., 1999, ‘A New Nigerian Police Image: Its Role in the Next Millennium’, Lecture delivered at a Seminar Organized for Assistant Inspectors-General and Commissioners of Police by the Nigeria Police Force, International Conference Centre, Abuja, 19–20 October.
Ahire, P.T., 1985, ‘Policing Colonization: The Emergence and Role of the Police in Colonial Nigeria 1860–1960’, Dissertation submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Cambridge.
Alemika, E.E.O. and Chukwuma, I.C., 2000, Police-Community Violence in Nigeria. Lagos: CLEEN and NHRC.
Anderson, J., 1979, Policing Freedom: A Commentary on the Dilemmas of Policing in Western Democracies., London: Macdonald & Evans.
Argyle, M., 1987, The Social Psychology of Work. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books. Bowden, T., 1978, Beyond the Limits of Law. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books.
Bunyard, R.S., 1978, Police: Organization and Command. London: Macdonald & Evans.
Clinard, M.B. and Abbot, D.J., 1973, Crime in Developing Countries: A Comparative Perspective. New York: John Wiley.
Crowder, M., 1962, The Story of Nigeria. London: Faber and Faber. Group interview, 2004, Plateau State Police Command, 20 June.
Group interview, 2004 Taraba State Police Command, 30 July. Group interview 2005, Police Training School, Jos.
Institute for the Study of Labour and Economic Crises, 1982, The Iron Fist and the Velvet Glove: An Analysis of the U.S. Police. San Francisco: Crime and Social Justice Associates.
Interview, 2004, Lucas Lumbi, Keffi, 15 April Interview, 2004, Police Training School, Jos. Interview, 2005, Police College, Kaduna.
Interview, 2006, Nasarawa State Police Command, Lafia. Jeffries, C., 1952, The Colonial Police. London: Max Parrish.
Jike, V.T., ed., 2003, The Nigeria Police and the Crisis of Law and Order. Lagos: NISS.
Leonard, V.A., 1980, Fundamentals of Law Enforcement: Problems and Issues. New York: West Publishing.
Killingray, D., 1986, ‘The Maintenance of Law and Order in British Colonial Africa’, African Affairs, 85, 340.
Odekunle, F., 1979, ‘The Nigeria Police Force: The Preliminary Assessment of Functional Performance’, International Journal of the Sociology of Law, 7.
NAI CSO 1/1/4, Letter from Denton to Rippon, 2 August 1893. Letter from Governor H.S. Freeman to Duke of Newcastle, 31 December 1863.
NAI CSO 26 11814,Volume II, Annual Report Police Force (ARPF), 1937.
NAI CSO 26 31861, Secretary of the Northern Provinces to the Chief Secretary in Lagos, 11 March 1937.
NAK Josprof 2/25/3A/1933, Plateau Province Annual Report 1932 (Departmental) Police 1932, 1933, 1934, 1937, 1938, 1939.
NAK Makprof Pol/9/Volume 1, Nigeria Police Policy, Recruitment of Police 1937–61.
NAK Makprof 750, Police Detachment Benue Province, Annual Reports 1934–1938.
NAK Makprof 750, Volume II Police Detachment Benue Province, Annual Report 1944–47.
Newswatch, 2002, ‘Our Bosses Cheat Us’, Lagos: Newswatch Communications, 18 February.
Nigeria Police Standing Orders, 1932. Lagos: Government Printer. PRO London CO 147/2, McCoskry to Russell, 6 January 1862.
Rotimi, K., 2001, The Police in a Federal State: The Nigerian Experience. Ibadan: College Press.
Sinclair, J.M., Wilkes, G.A. and Krebs, W.A., 2002, Definitive English Dictionary. London: HarperCollins.
Souryal, S.S., 1997, Police Administration and Management. St Paul, MN: West Publishing.
Tamuno, T.N., 1970, The Police in Modern Nigeria 1861–1965: Origin, Development and Role. Ibadan: Ibadan University Press.
Tamuno, T.N., Bashir, I.K., Alemika, E. E. O. and Akano, A. O., eds, 1993, Policing Nigeria. Lagos: Malthouse Press.