CORRUPTION IN NIGERIA POLICE FORCE AND INSECURITY: IMPACT ASSESSMENT

Abstract

Corruption is a form of dishonesty or a criminal offence which is undertaken by a person or an organization that is entrusted with a position of authority in order to acquire illicit benefits or abuse of power for one's personal gain. This paper examined the web of corruption in the Nigerian Police with a view to determining its impact on the society visa-vis internal security of Nigeria. The study found out that police corruption in Nigeria is structural as part of the wider wed of corruption in Nigerian. The paper also showed that poor working condition, poverty, poor police recruitment policy, ethnicity among other factors contribute to police corruption. Hence, the situation has undermined the institution. The paper concluded that police corruption in Nigeria is a major challenge to the institution, society and internal security of Nigeria. It then recommended an outright overhauling of the institution in which adequate and regular welfare packages for policemen and raising of professionalism stake within the Nigeria police will be paramount to enable the police perform her duties of protecting the lives and properties of the citizens of Nigeria, and making the citizens have confidence in the police by avoiding involvement in extra-legal actors.