By Paul Effiong, Abuja
The Citizens Centre for Integrated Development and Social Rights, CCIDESOR, in collaboration with International Alert, has advocated for stronger collaboration, communication, and accountability between the Nigeria Police Force, NPF, and the communities they serve.
The call comes as part of a policy brief issued under the Nigeria Police Force Reform Initiative III, with the titled “Improving Community Police Trust Through Mutual Accountability and Improved Communication.
The brief revealed that trust between the police and the public remains fragile in many parts of the country due to years of misunderstanding, poor communication as well as weak accountability systems.
According to the findings from Mutual Accountability Forums and Trust Scorecard Assessments conducted in Abia, Enugu, and other states, the major causes of mistrust include the lack of clear communication channels, unprofessional conduct, extortion, and failure to recognize the role of traditional rulers in community security.
The study further informed that the ongoing rivalry between the police, vigilante groups, and other local security outfits, which further complicates security coordination at the community level.
Despite these challenges, the brief highlights encouraging progress in communities where communication and mutual accountability have been prioritized.
In Abia State, for instance, local police divisions have started addressing complaints transparently and taking disciplinary action against officers found wanting.
Collaboration between police authorities and traditional rulers has also improved, resulting in greater confidence among residents.
It was gathered that Communities now play a more active role in supporting law enforcement efforts, including crime reporting and suspect identification.
According to CCIDESOR, these experiences demonstrate that open dialogue and shared accountability are the strongest foundations for rebuilding trust between the police and citizens.
The policy brief emphasizes that effective policing depends heavily on public confidence and cooperation.
It argues that when trust breaks down, communities withhold intelligence, resist lawful enforcement, and view the police as adversaries rather than protectors.
It therefore calls for consistent adherence to the Nigeria Police Act and for law enforcement officers to model the values of accountability, transparency, and respect for the rule of law.
A police force that operates within the law, the report stresses, naturally earns legitimacy and voluntary community support.
To sustain the progress achieved through the pilot initiatives, CCIDESOR and International Alert urge the Nigeria Police Force to institutionalize Mutual Accountability Forums across all states and local governments, allowing continuous engagement with the public.
They also recommend the expansion of the Trust Scorecard system to monitor reform implementation and maintain transparency. Ending transactional policing and fully enforcing the “bail is free” policy are identified as critical steps toward restoring public confidence.
In addition, the brief advocates for improved internal communication within the force, regular interactions with traditional and community leaders, continuous human rights training, and the promotion of Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanisms to reduce the burden on detention facilities.
Posting new police recruits to their home local government areas is also encouraged to improve cultural understanding and strengthen community ties.
The report calls on the federal and state governments to provide adequate resources for community police engagement, scale up the accountability and trust-building initiatives nationwide, and prioritize people-centered policing in the ongoing Police Reform Agenda.
It further urges collaboration between the police, traditional institutions, and local security networks to enhance coordination and reduce conflict over jurisdiction.
Civil society organisations and the media, the brief notes, have an important role to play in facilitating dialogue, educating the public, and monitoring reforms objectively.
Communities and traditional rulers are also encouraged to participate constructively in accountability forums, support lawful policing, and discourage mob justice.
Speaking on the findings, CCIDESOR’s Executive Director, Emeka Ononamadu explained that the project’s success in Abia and other participating states shows that rebuilding police citizen trust is possible through consistent communication and shared responsibility.
He stated further: “Where communication improves, mistrust declines; where accountability is practiced, confidence grows,
Ononamadu added that institutionalizing mutual accountability frameworks across Nigeria would deepen cooperation, strengthen public safety, and reinforce democratic policing culture.
He also urged all stakeholders, government, civil society, and citizens to see police reform not as punishment but as a partnership for building safer and more secure communities.
