Nigeria’s Security Failure: Extrajudicial Killings a Common Phenomenon

The Nigerian security mechanism, which includes the police, armed forces, and other personnel, has been frequently involved in a wide range of human rights violations.  Nigeria is plagued by a “common” occurrence of extrajudicial killings, injustice, impunity, decadence, corruption, bullying, harassment, and brutality. Nigeria’s armed forces not only extort money from its citizens but also engage in deliberate killings and unjustly strip away their lives, causing everlasting anguish to countless families. Human rights abuses and constitutional rights violations are a daily occurrence, causing Nigerians to live in fear of the police. Instead of upholding peace and security, Nigerian security personnel collaborate with criminals, causing hardships for travelers due to police misconduct. How can those responsible for enforcing the law turn into participants in gang violence, highway robbery, and nocturnal crimes, among other vices?

 

The scale of extrajudicial killings in Nigeria is staggering

Shedding light on the systemic problems of impunity, corruption, and human rights abuses. Global Rights, a civil society group, reports that over 848 extrajudicial executions took place across Nigeria between 2020 and June 2023. In the first half of 2023 alone, 127 cases were recorded. In 2020, 271 people were killed, while in 2022, the number was 253. At least 13 protesters were killed by security agencies and pro-government hoodlums, as reported by West Africa Weekly on August 3, 2024. These groups threatened and attacked peaceful protesters in various parts of Nigeria during the ongoing protest against bad governance and hunger. I am reminded of the sorrowful events and tragic conclusion of the #ENDSARS protest that took place in Nigeria in October 2020.

 

The #EndSARS Movement and Lekki Tollgate Massacre

Videos and pictures exposing police brutality, harassment, and extortion in Nigeria sparked nationwide protests on October 8, 2020, under the ENDSARS movement. International spotlight was placed on police brutality in Nigeria due to the October 2020 #EndSARS demonstrations. The movement’s primary attention was directed towards the notoriously abusive Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) at first. The protests ended with the Lekki Tollgate massacre on October 20, 2020, when security forces shot at peaceful demonstrators. Despite the government and army’s ongoing denial, Global Rights reports indicate that 123 individuals lost their lives in this incident, although official numbers are still contested.

 

The question on everyone’s mind since the incident has been:How did a well-coordinated protest that garnered the approval and admiration of stakeholders, elder-statesmen, parents, guardians, and many others, all while showcasing the resourcefulness and courage of Nigerian youth, go-south?

 

Only one answer exists. The government’s aggressive reaction to these nonviolent protests underscored the magnitude of the issue. There is a consensus in the media that the #Endsars protest stayed peaceful until the Nigerian government deployed soldiers and political thugs to assault and murder demonstrators. The protests came to an abrupt halt when the armed forces started shooting at innocent demonstrators who were holding the Nigerian flag and singing the national anthem.

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The prevalence of impunity and lack of accountability allows for widespread abuses, including extrajudicial killings, injustice, and brutality, to persist within security agencies.

It seems like we haven’t learnt anything from the October 2020 #ENDSARS protests. With the ongoing hunger and #Endbadgovernance protest in Nigeria, there is concern about whether the #Endsars protest will meet a similar fate.  The examination of the disturbing trend and documented instances of extrajudicial executions and abuses by Nigerian law enforcement, armed forces, and security personnel between 2020 and 2024 reveals the ongoing severity of these issues following the dissolution of SARS.

• In the Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State, Friday Arunsi was killed by gunfire in October 2020. Reportedly killed by an unqualified police constable with a firearm. The trio of police officers went out to have a drink and have fun. While on their way home, the driver lost control of the vehicle and crashed into the truck that was unloading goods in front of Friday Arunsi uncle’s shop. That is to tell you the level of unprofessionalism by some policemen.
• Similarly, in November 2020, the family of a 27-year-old comedian, Sadiq Abiola Adeyanju (aka Owonikoko), who was allegedly killed by a drunk policeman in Oba area of Abeokuta, Ogun State, is seeking justice.
• A police inspector in Enugu was taken into custody in June 2021 after a shooting spree resulted in the tragic deaths of five people.
• During a raid in August 2021, an 18-year-old named Monsurat Ojuade was fatally shot by a police officer in Lagos. The officer was ultimately fired and faced murder charges.
• July 2021 saw the Department of State Services (DSS) raid the residence of Sunday Igboho, a Yoruba separatist leader. This operation, viewed by many as politically motivated, resulted in the deaths of two of his associates.
• Journalists, activists, and ordinary citizens have reported harassment by security forces. Journalist Fisayo Soyombo was arrested and held by police in June 2021 for his corruption investigation.
• According to Reuters, in September 2022, an extensive investigation revealed that the Nigerian military had been involved in a secret and illegal abortion program, terminating over 10,000 pregnancies among women and girls in the northeast.
• In the name of counterterrorism, Amnesty International has documented several cases of arbitrary detainment, torture, and extrajudicial homicides.
• At least 17 civilians were reportedly killed by soldiers in Rukuba, Plateau State, in December 2022. The attack was believed to be a reprisal following the death of a soldier.
• Doing what they seem to know how to do best, a Nigerian police officer shot and killed an unarmed pregnant lawyer returning home from a Christmas Church service. Omobolanle Raheem and her unborn child were fatally shot by a police officer at a checkpoint in Ajah while returning from a Christmas Day service in December 2022.
• The 2023 elections saw numerous reports of security personnel being deployed to intimidate voters and opposition candidates. The European Union Election Observation Mission observed the “misuse of state resources,” such as security forces.
• Jacob Bamgbola was allegedly shot and killed by an Immigration officer in July 2023 during a protest against extortion at Idi-Iroko border town.
• In July 2023, there were reports of NSCDC personnel shooting and fatally injuring Kelechi Amadi, a 25-year-old apprentice metal scrap dealer, in Umuahia, Abia State. The incident allegedly occurred following a disagreement regarding a bribe.
• On July 29th, 2024, the Nigerian media was abuzz with news of @policeNG using live bullets on protesting students and staff of Federal College of Education (Technical) Akoka, Lagos. The protest was against the alleged corruption by the provost. Allegedly, the police resorted to live gunfire in order to disband peaceful protesters. Resulting in numerous injuries with over 30 students ending up in health centres and clinics.

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The situation is so chaotic that even Nigerian police officers are shooting each other. This fascinating news headline speaks for itself:Police inspector shot and killed fellow police officer in a crazy shooting drama when they were fully drunk with “kaikai” (local gin)

 

• In December 2019, a police inspector killed a corporal, wounded a deputy superintendent, and then committed suicide in the federal capital territory (FCT).
• A tragic incident took place in Rivers State, South-South Nigeria in April 2020. A female police sergeant named Lovender Elekwachi was fatally shot by another officer, Mr. Bitrus Osaiah, who was part of the Rivers State Task Force on Decongestion. The Rivers State Task Force team member fatally shot the policewoman while enforcing the government-imposed movement restriction to control the spread of Coronavirus. Eyewitnesses say that the female police officer was attempting to prevent members of the task force from damaging the belongings of traders in Eneka town, Obio-Akpor Local Government Area, when the incident occurred.
• At approximately 0430 hours in May 2020, Area A Command received a distress call reporting that Inspector Monday Gabriel from No 21 Police Mobile Force Squadron Abuja, who was on special duty in a Federal Government facility in Ikoyi Lagos, had gone berserk and was shooting randomly.
• A police officer in Abia was apprehended by the police command in October 2022 for shooting a fellow officer. The deceased, identified as Samuel Ugor, a police inspector, was killed after a verbal altercation.
• The Nigerian Government was indicted by the ECOWAS Court of Justice on July 10, 2024, for human rights abuses during the #EndSARS protest, specifically the excessive use of force at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos on October 20, 2020. According to CNN’s 2024 report, credible evidence points to disproportionate use of force and violations of multiple human rights. Once again, the Nigerian Government is employing the police and military to threaten and attack peaceful protesters, in an attempt to suppress the August 2024 hunger and end bad governance protest. West Africa Weekly has reported a minimum of 13 deaths at the time of writing this.

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I am concerned about the role of the Nigerian security apparatus in the ongoing August 2024 hunger and #EndBadGovernance protest. Will it face the same outcome as the #EndSARS protest?

According to West Africa Weekly, at least 13 protesters have lost their lives due to security personnel using live ammunition during the hunger and #EndBadGovernance protest. According to @GazetteNGR, @PremiumTimesng, and @WestAfricaWeekly, protesters and journalists were attacked by a joint team of Nigeria police and SSS during the 3rd day of the #EndBadGovernance protest at the MKO Stadium in Abuja. In violation of the Geneva Conventions, security agents switched from tear gas to live ammunition, shooting attendees sporadically. Armed individuals were protecting political thugs who were wielding machetes.

 

It is a common occurrence for Nigerian citizens to be innocent while Nigerian policemen attempt to intimidate them. Perpetrators of these killings rarely face justice, allowing a culture of impunity to persist. According to Abiodun Baiyewu, executive director of Global Rights, there is a significant gap between the number of killings in the first half of 2023 and the number of officers held accountable for these acts. Police brutality has taken center stage, but extrajudicial killings and abuses are prevalent in multiple security agencies due to various factors.

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Inadequate Training and Structural Inefficiencies

Nigeria’s security challenges stem from structural inefficiencies and inadequate training of its forces. A significant number of security personnel do not have the necessary training in human rights and professional conduct. The selection process for the protector of citizens position is influenced by godfathers, ministers, or political allies. According to a 2021 report by the Centre for Democracy and Development, numerous police recruits have insufficient education and inadequate training, resulting in some being unable to handle firearms effectively. The Inspector General of Police acknowledged in 2022 that more than 90% of lower-ranking officers reside in “inhuman” barracks, which may lead to low morale and corruption. Additionally, according to a 2022 Senate report, numerous police stations are without essential equipment such as vehicles and communication devices. It has been reported that some officers personally pay for their uniforms and boots. Soldiers fighting Boko Haram often express dissatisfaction with insufficient weapons and late pay, resulting in occasional mutinies.

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Corruption, Bribery and Extortion

Corruption continues to be a prevalent issue within Nigeria’s security apparatus, often leading to violent clashes between personnel and civilians.  The Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported that judges and magistrates received the highest cash bribes in Nigeria in 2023, followed by customs or immigration service officers and members of the armed forces. According to a 2021 survey by SERAP, 79% of Nigerians admitted to bribing police officers in the past year. 10 senior police officers were dismissed by the Police Service Commission in March 2023, while 18 others were demoted for offenses such as extortion and abuse of office.

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Lack of Accountability

Only a small number of wrongdoers are held accountable or face significant repercussions for their actions. Despite notable prosecutions, accountability for abuses remains low: In 2022, the National Human Rights Commission reported that only 82 out of 2,793 complaints of police human rights violations since 2020 resulted in officer punishment. Years have passed, but investigations into military abuses, like the bombing of an IDP camp in Rann, Borno State in 2017 that claimed the lives of over 160 civilians, have not led to any prosecutions. The cases all end up as another case of killed by their protectors ‘… and nothing will happen’? (https://willingpen.com/killed-by-their-protectors-and-nothing-will-happen).

 

Inter-Agency Rivalry and Poor Coordination

The lack of collaboration among security agencies has hindered their effectiveness. A clash between police and army personnel in Ibi, Taraba State in June 2020 ended tragically with the death of three police officers and a civilian, revealing a dangerous lack of coordination. Overlapping jurisdictions and confusion in the chain of command often arise due to the proliferation of specialized units and task forces.

 

Although the Nigerian government has taken steps towards reform, such as creating new oversight mechanisms and increasing training, the persistent culture of impunity within security forces enables widespread abuse to persist. Despite the implemented reforms, a culture of impunity has allowed alarming frequency of abuses to persist since 2020. Achieving meaningful change necessitates long-term political determination, structural alterations, and continuous enforcement of accountability measures. The question arises whether Nigerian security agencies have been affected by complacency, ineptitude, and politicization while combatting criminal activities. Consequently, Nigeria’s struggle against police brutality remains ongoing. Advocating for systemic change, accountability, and justice is essential when we reflect on the past and present. Nigeria must develop effective security policies to safeguard public safety and maintain its military, police, and security forces with modernity and discipline. Only then can we break free from this dark legacy.

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Conclusion

Nigerian security forces committing extrajudicial killings and injustice is a grave human rights crisis. It undermines the rule of law, erodes public trust in institutions, and threatens the very fabric of Nigerian society. Immediate reforms are necessary to tackle impunity, enhance accountability, and ensure the safety of citizens.

 

Nigerian Government, you can do better. Don’t let the August 2024 protest against hunger and bad governance suffer the same consequences as the October 2020 #EndSars protest.

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In our collective fight for justice, we must not let boundaries hinder us in standing against impunity and brutality.