Corruption and misconduct among police officers are significantly undermining public confidence in the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and affecting citizens’ willingness to share security intelligence, according to a new study.
The research, conducted by James Ojo Adakole and published in IRE Journals, surveyed 256 Nigerians to examine public perceptions of the police and how trust influences citizens’ willingness to provide intelligence in the fight against insecurity.
The study found that corruption and misconduct were among the major factors eroding public confidence in the police.
According to the findings, 84.8 per cent of respondents said corruption and misconduct reduce their confidence in the NPF, while 85.2 per cent said they did not believe the police treat citizens fairly and without bias.
Similarly, 67.6 per cent of those surveyed said police officers in their communities did not conduct themselves professionally when interacting with members of the public.
Low Trust in Police
The study also revealed generally low levels of public trust in the police.
It found that 62.9 per cent of respondents did not trust the NPF to protect lives and property in their communities, while 72.7 per cent lacked confidence in the force’s ability to respond effectively to security threats.
The researcher noted that citizens’ distrust was influenced largely by their personal experiences with the police rather than information obtained from others.
Trust Affects Intelligence Sharing
Despite the low level of trust, the study found that many Nigerians remain willing to support the police in the fight against crime.
About 74.6 per cent of respondents said they would report suspicious activities, while 84.4 per cent said they would share useful security information that could help prevent crime.
However, the study established that the willingness to cooperate is closely linked to the level of trust citizens have in the police.
It found that 52 per cent of respondents said their willingness to share intelligence depends on their level of trust in the police.
Meanwhile, 88.7 per cent said they would be more willing to cooperate with the police if public trust in the force improved.
The researcher said the findings support the Institutional Trust Theory, which suggests that citizens’ cooperation with and support for public institutions are strongly influenced by the level of trust they have in those institutions.
Fear of Victimisation
The study further identified fear as another major barrier to intelligence sharing.
According to the findings, 68.4 per cent of respondents said they did not feel safe sharing intelligence with the police because of concerns about intimidation or victimisation.
Only 35.2 per cent said they trusted the police to keep information provided by citizens confidential.
The findings suggest that improving confidentiality and protecting citizens who provide security information could play an important role in strengthening cooperation between communities and the police.
Recommendations
To address the challenges, Adakole recommended that the Nigeria Police Force intensify efforts to identify and discipline erring officers while introducing regular training focused on professional conduct and public engagement.
The study also recommended more interactive community engagement sessions to address recurring grievances and improve relationships between police officers and citizens.
It called for concrete safeguards to protect the confidentiality of information supplied by members of the public and reassure citizens that they would not face intimidation or victimisation for cooperating with security agencies.
The researcher stressed that citizen-generated intelligence remains critical to tackling Nigeria’s growing security challenges.
“At a critical time in the country’s history, Nigerians need the police to dismantle rising criminal networks that have made many of them feel largely unsafe on the road and in their homes,” the study stated.
It added that without public goodwill, achieving that objective would remain difficult for the Nigeria Police Force.
The study therefore urged the police to devote more resources and efforts towards rebuilding public trust by improving professionalism, efficiency and the discharge of their constitutional responsibilities.
