Nextier Calls for Rights-Based Police Reform in Nigeria

Nextier, through authors Chibuik Njoku and Ndu Nwokolo, advocates for a rights-based reform of the Nigerian police, emphasizing the need for a cultural transformation that prioritizes human rights compliance. The report identifies the ongoing crisis in Nigeria's policing system as rooted in a legacy of militarized practices and weak accountability mechanisms.

It cites a specific incident from April 2026, where a 28-year-old man was killed by police in Effurun, Delta State, as an example of excessive force that erodes public confidence. The authors argue that arbitrary arrests, torture, extortion, and extrajudicial killings undermine trust in law enforcement.

They reference the 2020 End SARS protests as a turning point that exposed deep public frustrations with police abuses. The report calls for comprehensive reforms, including the establishment of an independent national police oversight commission, increased funding for human rights training, and the adoption of accountability tools such as body cameras.

It stresses that successful reform requires strong political commitment.