A REVIEW ON THE CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF CITIZENS' DISTRUST IN THE POLICE IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Police have been a subject of discourse among scholars and citizens. In the last three decades (1994–2024), Nigerians have expressed concerns about the conduct of some officers of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) due to their involvement in unprofessional acts, resulting in negative attitudes and diminished confidence in the NPF. Thus, this paper reviews the causes and consequences of citizens’ distrust in the police in Nigeria. The paper draws on a systematic desk review of secondary data from official reports, peer-reviewed journals, textbooks, and credible online resources, thereby synthesising patterns and insights across multiple perspectives. The objectives of the paper are to examine the factors responsible for citizens’ distrust of the NPF and to investigate its consequences. The paper is anchored on the Social Constructivism Theory by Lev Vygotsky (1934), which provides a framework for understanding how citizens’ past interactions with the police shape their attitudes and perceptions. The paper’s findings indicate that unethical conduct by certain police officers, along with insufficient training and limited professional development opportunities within the NPF, significantly contributes to citizens’ distrust. Furthermore, the paper reveals that the major consequence of citizens’ distrust in the police is the creation of a negative image of the NPF. The paper recommends that the Federal Government of Nigeria and the NPF authorities provide regular, compulsory capacity-building programmes for all police officers, combat unethical practices within the NPF, and conduct enlightenment campaigns to improve citizens' trust in the NPF.