Opinion: Police Multiple Demands and the Erosion of Public Trust in Law Enforcement

One of the greatest disservices to justice in Nigeria today is the discouraging attitude many citizens face when seeking help from the police. An increasingly troubling trend is the barrage of demands—both official and unofficial—that complainants are subjected to when they report cases at police stations. These multiple, often illegal, demands are pushing people to abandon their pursuit of justice and retreat into silence, or worse, take laws into their own hands.

Ideally, a police station should be a safe haven—a place where the common man finds protection, assistance, and hope for redress. But in practice, many complainants are treated as cash cows. From “money for paper” to “mobilization fee,” “transport for investigation and arrest,” and sometimes even “money for bail” (despite the mantra bail is free), the financial burden placed on ordinary citizens is overwhelming and unjustifiable. The irony is painful: the victim must pay to get justice, while the accused sometimes walks free for having deeper pockets.

These extortive practices have created a dangerous apathy among the populace. Many victims of theft, assault, domestic violence, land disputes, and other crimes now say, “Let God judge,” rather than go through the frustrating and financially draining process of reporting to the police. In extreme cases, some resort to jungle justice or vigilante groups, which most times perpetuate lawlessness and insecurity.

This culture of monetizing justice at the grassroots must be addressed urgently. The leadership of the Nigeria Police Force must institute strict monitoring mechanisms to check corrupt practices among rank-and-file officers. Community engagement and public education are also necessary, so citizens understand their rights and feel safe to report erring officers.

Moreover, there should be a clear separation between administrative costs and justice delivery. If police logistics are truly underfunded, the government should step up funding and oversight, rather than allowing the burden to fall on already struggling citizens.

Justice should never be for sale. The moment a victim begins to feel like a suspect or a source of income, the police have failed in their duty. To rebuild trust and encourage timely reporting of crimes, the Nigerian police must clean its house and return to its core mandate: to protect and serve.

Akpokona Omafuaire Esq, writes from Akperhe Olomu