By AIG David Igbodo Rtd –
In the past few weeks, I have watched—often with tears in my eyes—disturbing accounts of police misconduct and inhumanity, both on our highways and within the precincts of police formations. Time and again, some have been quick to argue that poor welfare conditions are to blame for these atrocities. I must respectfully disagree.
The Inspector-General of Police has, in recent times, taken steps to discourage such misconduct—not only by improving welfare packages but also by arresting and punishing erring officers. Yet, despite these efforts, acts of brutality, extortion, and even extra-judicial killings persist. We must therefore confront a simple truth: poor welfare is not, and can never be, a license for inhumanity.
A good spirit, no matter how malnourished, abandoned, or neglected, does not lose its humanity. Poverty does not automatically turn a man into a thief, nor does hardship justify cruelty. The challenges faced by members of the police—low salaries, inadequate facilities, lack of proper equipment—are real and demand urgent reform. But these conditions cannot excuse the stripping away of human dignity or the taking of innocent lives.
The role of the police is sacred. They are entrusted with the duty of protecting lives, safeguarding law and order, and ensuring justice. When officers deviate from this calling—when they prey on the very citizens they swore to defend—they break the social contract at its core. To brutalize or kill a fellow human being for money is not poverty—it is moral decay. It is not a consequence of poor welfare—it is a choice to abuse power rather than uphold integrity.
This is not to suggest that Nigerian police officers, or indeed those in other struggling societies, do not deserve better treatment. They do. They deserve fair wages, modern tools, adequate insurance, quality training, and the respect that comes with professional service. A well-cared-for police force is far more likely to serve with discipline and pride. But just as we call on government to uplift them, we must equally call on police officers themselves to uphold the dignity of their office: to enforce the law, not break it; to protect citizens, not prey upon them.
At the heart of the matter, every police officer is a human being before being an officer of the law. And every human being, regardless of circumstance, bears a conscience. To dehumanize others is to silence that conscience. No excuse can justify such an act.
We must continue to advocate for police reform and better welfare. But equally, we must demand accountability. Real reform requires both: a government willing to uplift, and a police force willing to embrace the humanity of its mission. Until then, corruption, abuse, and extra-judicial killings will remain stains that no excuse can cleanse.
AIG David Igbodo Rtd.
Is the Principal Partner, DB Legal Consultants
