Citation

Igbo EUM. Afr. J. Crimol. Justice Stud. 2017; 10(1): 83-99.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, University of Maryland - Eastern Shore)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

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Abstract

The paper examines the use and abuse of police powers in Nigeria, with emphasis on extrajudicial killing. It argues that extrajudicial killing is the most serious abuse of power and violation of victims' rights to life and fair hearing. Using four typical case studies of live events from Nigerian newspapers, the paper shows that the police in Nigeria not only adopt the doctrine of maximum force in crime control, they often kill suspects and non-suspects at the flimsiest excuse because of an institutionalized culture of impunity. This culture of impunity is derived largely from Government's authorization of a policy of shoot-to-kill, when in confrontation with armed robbers and other dangerous criminals.


Key words: The police, the Nigeria police, police powers, abuse of police powers, extrajudicial killing

Language: en