LAW ENFORCEMENT, HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE NEW NIGERIA POLICE FORCE: IGP TUNJI DISU’S APPROACH
By OLUMUYIWA ADEJOBI
The challenge before the IGP upon assumption of office was how to build a Police Force that can effectively combat criminality without violating the rights of the citizens it is established to protect.
Generally, law enforcement is a difficult task in any nation, particularly a complex and developing country like Nigeria. The country is diverse in its demographic composition, geography, religion, culture, language and socioeconomic realities. These complexities, coupled with public distrust and varying perceptions of authority, makes policing a demanding responsibility that requires professionalism, patience, discipline and a sound understanding of the rule of law.
In Nigeria, the relationship between law enforcement and human rights has remained a subject of public debate. While the police are constitutionally entrusted with protecting lives, property and public order, allegations of unlawful arrest, extortion, excessive use of force and other forms of misconduct have continued to raise concerns about police accountability. The challenge before the IGP upon assumption of office was how to build a Police Force that can effectively combat criminality without violating the rights of the citizens it is established to protect.
It is important to recognise that law enforcement and human-rights protection are not opposing responsibilities. They are complementary obligations in a democratic society. The armed robber who deprives another person of safety and property violates that person’s rights. The rapist who assaults a victim violates human dignity and personal security. The kidnapper who deprives a person of liberty commits a grave violation of the victim’s rights. The police officer who intervenes lawfully to prevent these crimes and bring perpetrators to justice is performing an essential duty in the protection of human rights.
However, the legitimate responsibility of the police does not confer unlimited powers on their personnel. A suspect does not lose the right to dignity and fair treatment because of an allegation of criminal conduct. Arrests, searches, interrogations and detention must be conducted within the ambit of the law. Torture, extortion, arbitrary detention and unnecessary force cannot be justified in the name of law enforcement. Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights expressly provides that “No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.” Similarly, American civil rights leader, Dr Martin Luther King Jr., in his historic Letter from Birmingham Jail of 16 April 1963, declared: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
Also, Sections 34, 35 and 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, protect the dignity of the human person, personal liberty and the right to fair hearing. The Nigeria Police Act, 2020, also provides a statutory framework for the protection of human rights and the lawful treatment of suspects. These provisions leave no room for the argument that an officer’s duty to investigate crime overrides the fundamental rights of a suspect.
The real issue, therefore, is not whether the police should enforce the law, but whether they can do so professionally, lawfully and without abuse of authority. The answer is YES. A responsible police institution must protect citizens from criminals while protecting them from unlawful conduct by its own officers. Neither responsibility should be sacrificed for the other.
Nigerians will not easily forget the #EndSARS protests of October 2020, which brought longstanding grievances over police brutality, particularly the alleged excesses of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), into national and international focus. What began as protests against alleged abuses by SARS officers developed into a broader movement demanding an end to police brutality, greater accountability and comprehensive reform of the Nigeria Police Force.
The #EndSARS experience demonstrated that public confidence cannot be sustained by the mere possession of authority or the ability to use force. Rather, the legitimacy of a police institution rests on its ability to exercise its powers lawfully, treat citizens with dignity and hold erring personnel accountable. A police force may possess the equipment, personnel and legal authority to confront criminality, but its long-term effectiveness also depends on the confidence and cooperation of the people.
Since then, successive police administrations have faced the challenge of translating the demands for reform into practical and sustainable changes in police conduct. It is against this background that the leadership of the 23rd indigenous Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, psc(+), NPM, deserves accolades for its stated emphasis on professionalism, discipline, accountability and the rebuilding of public confidence in the Nigeria Police Force.
Since assuming office, IGP Disu has emphasized a people-oriented approach to policing, recognizing that effective law enforcement must address not only major crimes and security threats but also the everyday concerns of citizens. This approach presents an important opportunity to strengthen the relationship between law enforcement and human-rights protection, moving policing beyond the mere exercise of authority towards a more accountable, responsive and service-driven institution.
In April 2026, the Nigeria Police Force reported an engagement between the IGP and civil society representatives, including human-rights advocate Femi Falana, SAN, and other stakeholders concerned with governance, accountability and police reform. According to the Force’s official account, discussions addressed compliance with the Police Act, 2020, the rights of suspects, police accountability, officer welfare and improvements to complaint-handling mechanisms.
The IGP reaffirmed the Force’s commitment to people-centred policing through community engagements and indicated that reforms would include updated training manuals, improved personnel welfare and stronger accountability through the Complaint Response Unit and Monitoring Unit. The engagement was significant because it brought institutional leadership into direct conversation with stakeholders who have long advocated stronger safeguards against police misconduct. According to Premium Times of 17 April 2026, the IGP’s representative conveyed the message: “I have heard the cries of many Nigerians, and we are presently putting a lot together to ensure that this administration, moving forward, ends impunity in our nation.” This statement captures one of the most important expectations confronting the present police leadership: that the concerns of Nigerians must not merely be heard but translated into appropriate institutional action.
Since assuming leadership of the Force, the IGP has demonstrated a clear recognition that police reform must extend beyond policy statements to the everyday conduct of officers at police stations, checkpoints, interrogation rooms and operational locations across the country. His administration’s engagement with civil society organisations, emphasis on ending impunity and commitment to strengthening accountability mechanisms reflect a deliberate move towards a more people-oriented policing culture in which the exercise of police authority is matched by responsibility, restraint and respect for human dignity.
A significant component of the IGP’s approach is the Police Complaint Response Unit (CRU), which provides members of the public with an avenue to report alleged extortion, unlawful arrest, harassment and other forms of police misconduct. The continued use and strengthening of this mechanism under the Disu-led administration demonstrate the importance attached to ensuring that citizens have accessible channels through which their grievances can receive appropriate attention. Rather than treating complaints as an inconvenience to the institution, this approach recognizes them as an important source of information for identifying misconduct, correcting operational deficiencies and strengthening public confidence.
The administration’s emphasis on accountability is further reinforced by the role of the Monitoring Unit in promoting internal supervision, monitoring compliance with operational standards and identifying conduct inconsistent with professional expectations. These mechanisms form part of the broader institutional framework through which the leadership seeks to ensure that allegations of misconduct receive appropriate attention. Where recurring complaints expose weaknesses within a particular formation or unit, the response extends beyond individual culpability to the examination of supervision, training, operational procedures and command responsibility. This reflects an understanding that sustainable reform requires both individual accountability and institutional correction.
The approach adopted under IGP Disu also recognizes that accountability is not limited to punishing officers after misconduct has occurred. It encompasses preventive supervision, proper documentation, institutional learning and the correction of practices that create opportunities for abuse. An effective accountability system protects citizens, supports officers who discharge their duties professionally and strengthens the credibility of the institution as a whole. At the same time, the administration’s commitment to accountability must operate within the principles of fairness and due process. Allegations require impartial investigation, officers must be afforded the opportunity to respond, and disciplinary decisions must be based on established facts. Firmness against misconduct and fairness in disciplinary proceedings are complementary requirements of credible police reform.
The Nigeria Police Act, 2020, provides the statutory foundation for these efforts. Section 4 identifies the protection of people’s rights and freedoms, the maintenance of public safety and the promotion of community partnership among the functions of the Police Force. The Act therefore places respect for human rights within the core responsibilities of policing. Its provisions on arrest, the rights of suspects and humane treatment further reinforce the principle that law enforcement must itself remain lawful. The emphasis on professionalism and accountability under IGP Disu is consistent with this framework and underscores the administration’s responsibility to ensure that statutory obligations are reflected in operational decisions throughout the Force.
Command responsibility remains central to the implementation of these standards. Commissioners of Police, area commanders and divisional police officers are critical to translating the IGP’s policy direction into operational practice. Their responsibilities extend beyond crime prevention, arrests and the maintenance of public order to include the supervision of personnel, compliance with established procedures and appropriate responses to complaints of misconduct. The Disu-led administration’s emphasis on accountability consequently places responsibility on commanders to lead by example, exercise effective oversight and address misconduct rather than ignore or conceal it.
This approach recognizes that command performance cannot be assessed solely by the number of arrests made, exhibits recovered or suspects charged to court. The methods through which operational results are achieved matter just as much. An operation that produces arrests but is marred by unlawful detention, torture or unnecessary force cannot be regarded as an unqualified success. The administration’s people-oriented reform direction is anchored in the understanding that operational effectiveness and respect for human rights are mutually reinforcing responsibilities.
Professional training and retraining also one of the key objectives of IGP Disu led administration, which is aimed at sustaining a culture of lawful and accountable policing. At the just concluded Conference and retreat for senior managers of the Force, held at Owerri, themed “Developing a Nigeria Police Roadmap for Effective Management of Security During Elections.”. The IGP invited as special guest, retired senior Police officers, who gave lectures to managers of the Force, sharing their wealth of experience to guide them in discharge of their duties, before, during and after the electioneering periods.
Human-rights principles must remain embedded in police education, operational procedures and performance assessment. Officers require continuous instruction on lawful arrest and detention, interrogation safeguards, the use of force, conflict de-escalation and the treatment of vulnerable persons. These principles must be reinforced through practical exercises, effective supervision and periodic evaluation of conduct in the field. It is not enough for an officer to know that torture is prohibited; the officer must also understand lawful investigative alternatives, evidence-based interviewing techniques and the consequences of violating established safeguards.
Public education also forms an important part of the broader effort by the IGP to strengthen relations between the police and the public. In his opening remarks the IGP stated “My top priority is to make my men know the citizens are the BOSS.” Citizens need to understand their rights and responsibilities, just as officers must understand the limits of their powers and forget a cordial relationship towards ensuring a stable and safe Nigeria for all. Ignorance of the law, cultural misconceptions and disregard for lawful authority can complicate police operations, but they cannot excuse abuse by either citizens or officers. Public awareness programmes particularly on the Nigeria Police Radio and other social media platforms, community outreach and accessible information on complaint procedures help citizens understand how to seek redress and cooperate with lawful investigations. Police communication platforms also provide opportunities to explain arrest procedures, the rights of suspects, lawful police powers and the channels available for reporting misconduct. These efforts complement the administration’s wider emphasis on accountability by helping citizens make informed use of existing safeguards.
The National Human Rights Commission, the Police Service Commission, the courts and other relevant oversight institutions remain important partners in the broader accountability framework. Their respective mandates must be respected, and cooperation with the Nigeria Police Force should facilitate credible investigations, appropriate remedies for victims and lawful consequences where misconduct is established. Internal discipline remains indispensable, but it does not replace independent scrutiny or prosecution where required by law. The ongoing reform direction recognizes the importance of institutional accountability and the need for mechanisms that prevent abuse, identify wrongdoing early and ensure that justice remains accessible to those whose rights have been infringed.
The importance of the relationship between human rights and the rule of law was emphasized by former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who observed in a 1999 address that “the most successful nations today are those built on the principle of respect for human rights and the rule of law.” This principle remains directly relevant to the transformation of policing in Nigeria. The legitimacy of a police institution depends not simply on the authority it possesses, but on the fairness, restraint and integrity with which that authority is exercised. The measures being pursued under IGP Disu reflect the importance of this relationship to effective policing and sustainable public confidence.
The Disu led administration’s progress must be understood in the context of the structures, engagements and professional standards already being advanced. The CRU provides a channel for complaints, the Monitoring Unit supports internal oversight, engagement with civil society creates opportunities for dialogue, and the existing legal framework establishes the standards against which police conduct should be assessed. These are complementary elements of an accountability framework, and their continued operation and strengthening are essential to sustaining the reform direction. Their effectiveness is reflected not merely in their existence, but in their contribution to better supervision, fairer treatment of citizens and more credible responses to allegations of misconduct.
The value of these efforts can also be demonstrated through observable improvements in police-citizen relations and the handling of complaints. Citizens should be able to report abuses without fear of intimidation or retaliation; suspects should be treated with dignity; victims should have access to justice; and officers who violate the law should face appropriate consequences following due process. These are the practical outcomes towards which the administration’s initiatives are directed. Their consistent monitoring helps identify progress, address weaknesses and ensure that institutional commitments continue to produce meaningful results.
Under IGP Tunji Disu, the Nigeria Police Force is pursuing a reform direction that places professionalism, accountability and respect for human rights at the centre of its institutional responsibilities. The administration’s engagement with civil society, emphasis on ending impunity and reliance on complaint and monitoring mechanisms demonstrate that these objectives are being addressed through existing institutional channels and ongoing leadership initiatives. The task is therefore not to treat accountability and people-oriented policing as new or uninitiated concepts, but to recognise the measures already being pursued and to support their consistent application throughout the Force.
The progress of reform is evident in the extent to which institutional standards are translated into daily operational conduct. It is reflected in the officer who conducts an arrest lawfully, the investigator who chooses credible evidence over coercion, the commander who addresses misconduct rather than concealing it, and the police formation that treats every complaint with seriousness and fairness. These are the practical expressions of a professional culture in which accountability and operational effectiveness reinforce one another.
Sustaining this progress remains a shared responsibility. Government must provide the necessary resources and welfare support; police officers must uphold professional standards; oversight institutions must discharge their mandates without fear or favour; citizens must cooperate with lawful enforcement; and civil society must continue to encourage accountability and constructive engagement. The IGP’s leadership provides direction, but the lasting success of the administration’s reform initiatives depends on their consistent application by personnel at every level and the continued cooperation of all stakeholders in the criminal justice system.
IGP Tunji Disu’s reform direction deserves support because it advances the objective of a Police Force that is more professional, accountable and respectful of human dignity. The engagements, accountability mechanisms and emphasis on lawful policing already being pursued under his leadership provide a foundation for consolidating public confidence and strengthening institutional legitimacy. The significance of the administration lies not merely in the policies it articulates, but in its ongoing efforts to translate those principles into the conduct, supervision and accountability of police personnel.
The public must be able to see and experience the difference between a police force that merely exercises power and one that earns respect through service, integrity and accountability. That difference is found in the officer who conducts an arrest lawfully, the investigator who rejects torture in favour of credible evidence, the commander who refuses to conceal misconduct and the police formation that treats every complaint as deserving of fair consideration.
A strong police force is not one that exercises power without restraint, but one that enforces the law with courage, professionalism, fairness and respect for human rights. That is the standard Nigeria must demand and the enduring measure by which the new policing direction under IGP Tunji Disu should be assessed. The ultimate goal is a Police Force that is effective against criminality, accountable for its actions and trusted by the citizens it is constitutionally mandated to protect.
The true strength of the Nigeria Police Force will not be measured only by its ability to arrest criminals, but also by its commitment to uphold the law, protect human dignity and earn the trust of the people.
Omooba Olumuyiwa Adejobi, fnipr, Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Oba Adejobi’s House, Orile Owu, Osun State, Nigeria, Princemoye@gmail.com
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