AWARENESS AND DISPOSITION OF NIGERIAN POLICE TO FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHTS AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROTECTION OF NIGERIAN CITIZENS

Abstract

Human rights, which lends credence to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, aims at protecting the rights of every individual regardless of age, race, religion and sex. Several indices, today point to the fact that these rights are being violated especially by the Nigerian Police. This study, therefore, investigated the awareness and disposition of the Nigerian citizens. A descriptive survey research method was employed for the study. The sample size of 120 Police men and women were selected through simple random sampling techniques. 20 Police officers were selected each from divisions A-F in Ilorin. An instrument tagged “Questionnaire on Awareness and Disposition of Nigerian Police to Human Rights Protection of Nigerian Citizens (QDNPHRPNC)” was used. Findings of the study reveals that the majority of the police are aware of human rights issues while they have a bid attitude to it. Qualification influenced their disposition to human rights protection of citizens while working experience did not influence their disposition to it. Based on the findings, it was recommended that there is the need to orientate and re-orients and re-orientate the police on civic learning, especially, human rights should be published and made available to police officers and human rights commissions should also intensify their efforts in checkmating the excessiveness of police on human rights protection of citizen.