AJAG Article

Abstract

Police brutality in Nigeria constitutes a violation of fundamental human rights and reflects broader
governance failures. Existing studies have largely focused on the EndSARS protests, the role of social
media in youth mobilisation, and the political economy of the demonstrations. Comparatively little
attention has been devoted to examining how persistent police brutality reflects systemic governance
deficits and how the protests represented broader demands for accountability, the rule of law, and good
governance rather than merely police reform. This study addresses this gap by examining the nexus
between police brutality, the EndSARS protests, and the quest for good governance in Nigeria. The study
relies on secondary data analysed through historical analysis. It identifies persistent patterns of police
misconduct, including extrajudicial killings, torture, inhuman treatment, extortion, sexual abuse of female
suspects, fabrication of evidence, and unlawful detention. The findings reveal that endemic police
brutality is symptomatic of weak institutional accountability, poor adherence to the rule of law, and wider
governance deficiencies, which collectively fuelled the EndSARS protests. The study concludes that,
despite prevailing socio-economic challenges, the protests constituted a significant platform through
which Nigerian youths demanded accountable governance, respect for human rights, institutional
reforms, and greater government responsiveness.

POLICE BRUTALITY, ENDSARS PROTESTS AND THE QUEST FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE IN NIGERIA, 2026, Vol. 4, No. 1, pp. 101-109. PDF