Sustaining a tradition of policing through alienation: an assessment of recruitment and training in the colonial and postcolonial Nigeria police

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Periodical article

Title:	Sustaining a tradition of policing through alienation: an assessment of recruitment and training in the colonial and postcolonial Nigeria police
Author:	Onoja, Adoyi F.
Year:	2005
Periodical:	Afrika Zamani: revue annuelle d'histoire africaine = Annual Journal of African History (ISSN 0850-3079)
Issue:	13-14
Pages:	137-151
Language:	English
Notes:	biblio. refs.
Geographic terms:	Nigeria West Africa
Subjects:	police labour recruitment government policy History, Archaeology Police--Nigeria--History Nigeria Police Force Police training
Abstract:	Among the structural and institutional problems with which the police in Nigeria is faced, its alienation from the public stands out. The Nigerian police was established during the colonial period to safeguard and protect colonial interests. Its association with military duties has aroused public distrust from the start. This article argues that this alienation was the result of colonial and contemporary recruitment and training policies. While it was specifically encouraged in the colonial period, after independence the lack of an official policy was exacerbated by government neglect, the poor quality of recruits, their weak motivation and inadequate training. This has resulted in a hostile relationship between the public and the police while at the same time ensuring the protection of the interests of the ruling class. Bibliogr., sum. in English and French. [ASC Leiden abstract]