CHALLENGES OF INDISCIPLINE IN THE NIGERIA POLICE AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR NATIONAL SECURITY Ph.D. THESIS THE INSTITUTE OF AFRICAN STUDIES UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN IBADAN OJO SUNDAY ABRAHAM B.Sc. [ANI.SC] M.A. [Peace & Conflict Studies] MATRIC NO. 72406 Thesis submitted to the Institute of Africa Studies (IAS), University of Ibadan in partial fulfillment of Requirements for award of degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PCS) of the University of Ibadan. NOVEMBER, 2011 ABSTRACT As an important arm in governance and social control, attention has been focused on the police. Corruption, inadequate funding, poor governance, and public attitude to the police force, under-staffing, and inadequate training have been identified by scholars and policymakers as major problems of the Nigerian Police. However, little has been done on indiscipline in the Nigeria Police in relations to these challenges. This study examined the linkages of indiscipline with these issues and their implications on national security management in Nigeria. Quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection and analysis were used in the study. Qualitative data were generated through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions (FGD). Quantitative data were obtained through a structured questionnaire. Three hundred copies of the questionnaire were administered in the sample areas randomly selected from the six geo-political zones in the country and two hundred and eighty (86.7%) were successfully retrieved and were augmented with data collected through interviews and focus group discussions with top echelons in the police, junior officers and the ranks and files, traditional rulers, civil societies, police service commission chairman etc. Frequency count percentages and Pearson chi-square were employed to analyze the result. The Nigerian Police Force has not been able to contribute effectively and efficiently to the maintenance of national security of Nigeria because of indiscipline. There is lot of laxity, insolence and disrespect among men and officers of the Nigerian Police. Corruption, inadequate funding, poor training, and interference of governments in Police duties, under- staffing and poor training are results of circumvention of standards. Rules and orders stipulated by the Nigeria Police Acts and provisions by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria are not adhered to. This results in their dismal performance. Greater percentage (69.9%) of the Nigerian populace are not satisfied of the increasing impairment of the police effectiveness (2 = 28.805; df = 2; P < 0.05) and its severe implications on national security (2 = 11.877; df = 2; P < 0.05). Other factors such as non-conducive working environment, lack of motivation, erroneous perception of national security from coercive force perceptive contributes to unsatisfactory performance by the Nigeria Police. Also communication gap existing between the police and the general public makes security to be seen by the public as purely police affairs. Lack of motivation, under-staffing, poor attitude to the police force, corruption, poor governance, inadequate funding, non-conducive working environment, and poor training are all outcomes of indiscipline. The communication gap between police and general public should be blurred. Furthermore, the police force and general public must be sensitized and reoriented on what constitute national security. This will result in effective and efficient management of security in Nigeria. The prospect of effective and efficient policing of Nigeria lies in addressing indiscipline jointly by the government, the Police Force and the general public. Massive orientation of the police personnel and general public on implications of indiscipline on national security is urgent. Key words: Indiscipline, Corruption, Nigeria Police, National security. Word Count: 485 ii DEDICATION I dedicate this work to the Almighty God for making it a success. His presence and ever present help and faithfulness saw me through those stressful moments in the course of the work. Also to my late father Samuel Adeyanju Ojo for all his love and support for this work. iii CERTIFICATION I certify that this thesis was written by Sunday Abraham OJO in the Department of Peace and Conflict Studies, Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan under my supervision. ……………………………. ………………………………………. Date Supervisor Prof. O.B.C. Nwolise Department of Political Science University of Ibadan. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENT If not for His grace, I would not have been able to accomplish this task. I, therefore, acknowledge the grace of God upon my life for making this work a reality. Thank you Lord; must also acknowledge the efforts of many people that have contributed to the completion of this work. Mention must be made of my supervisor, Dr. O.B.C . Nwolise who has taken his time to read the work and offer useful suggestions that have contributed greatly to the quality of this work, also for his support and intellectual guidance. His in-dept knowledge of national security and for the materials he provided were invaluable contributions that made this work a success. To him I will always remain grateful. I wish to place on record the invaluable contributions of the Director, Institute of African studies, Prof. I.O. Albert, Dr. Danjibo, Dr Olorunyomi, Dr. K.M. Samuel for the success of this work. Their concern and assistance marks them out for special mention. I express my profound gratitude to Dr. O.B. Olaoba. He deserves special mention for his concern and constant encouragement, indeed you are a mentor. I also thank my lecturers, Drs. Adekola, Adekunle, Ishola, Faleti, Danjibo, the sub-dean Dr. Olorunyomi. I also wish to acknowledge the moral and financial contribution of my mentors, General Osemwota, Compol Alkali and Acpol Bola Longe, for being there for me in times of need, mention must also be made of Barrister Olubukola Anjola Ayeni, you are a friend indeed, God bless you. I acknowledge the contributions of my colleagues in the Institute of African Studies – Drs. Fransisca Essien, David Udofia, Kayode Owojori, Andrew Sawyer, Bose Babatunde, Willi Eselebor, Mrs. Alabi, Elebute, Salawu, Ojo Adesoji, John Oritsetiseyi and a host of others. I thank the entire staff of the institute of African Studies for their assistance throughout the duration of this course. My sincere gratitude also goes to Mr. Ogunmola and the entire IFRA and the Institute Library staff – Mr. Raji and Mrs. Mary Emoekpeire. My family deserves special mention. First, I want to place on record, the immense contribution of my Late Father Mr. Adeyanju Ojo and my mother Mrs. Abimbola Ojo for the success of this work and being there for me during my wilderness experience. To you I will remain eternally grateful. I am deeply grateful to my siblings for their unflinching love and support. To all my colleagues in the Nigeria Police Force especially the Course 3/2009 set, I will forever remain grateful to all of you for the love, concern, support and encouragement. v My deep gratitude also goes to the entire staff of CLEEN, NISER, Police Service Commission, Police Affairs and every good people I met during the fieldwork at Abuja, Lagos, Borno/Gwoza etc. for their concern and assistance throughout the period of my studies. I also acknowledge the assistance of my sister Deaconess Funmilayo Ojo and her family for typing this work from beginning to the end God bless you. Finally, my gratitude goes to my best friend and wife Olubusayo Rebecca Ojo, you deserve special mention for your contributions to the success of this work and for keeping the home front, God will perfect your matter. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS Title Page i Abstract ii Dedication iii Certification iv Table of Contents v List of Tables vii List of Figures ix List of Plates x Chapter One Introduction 1 1.1 Background 1 1.2 Statement of the Research Problem 5 1.3 Objectives of Study 12 1.4 Significance of Study 13 1.5 Scope of the Study 14 1.6 Limitations of the Study 15 Chapter Two Literature Review 17 2.1 National Security 17 2.2 Policing 29 2.3 Discipline 32 Chapter Three Methodology of the Study 123 3.1 Research Design 123 3.2 Methodology 124 3.3 Sources of Data Collection 125 3.4 Data Analysis 130 vii Chapter Four Data Analysis, Research Findings and Discussions 132 4.0 Data Analysis and Research Findings 132 Chapter Five Conclusion and Recommendations 243 5.1 Summary 243 5.2 Conclusion 245 5.3 Recommendations 245 Bibliography 248 viii LIST OF TABLES Table 4.1: Respondents response to the statement that, “The Nigeria Police Force is the most visible law enforcement agent.” 135 Table 4.2: Respondents response to the statement that, “Duties of the police is to protect lives and properties of citizenry at all cost” 135 Table 4.3: Respondents response to the statement that, “Police plays vital roles in the maintenance of law and order in the society” 136 Table 4.4 Respondents response to the statement that, “the public sees the police as a body of oppressors and traitors not as friends” 137 Table 4.5: Respondents response to the state that, “the police serves the elite in the society and not the masses/general public” 137 Table 4.6 Respondents response to the statement that “there is inefficiency and ineffectiveness in the performance of the police duties” 138 Table 4.7 Respondents response to the statement that “the roles of the police in the society have been well satisfactory” 139 Table 4.8: Respondents response to the statement that, “societal ethics does not affect the performance of the police”