By Covenant Daaor
In a country where citizens already grapple with economic hardship, insecurity, and uncertainty, the very institution meant to protect lives continues to inspire fear instead of trust. The recent tragic incident involving a police officer who allegedly shot a young Nigerian man,despite his cries, despite his insistence on innocence,has once again forced a painful question into the national conversation: how many more lives must be lost before something truly changes?
Eyewitness accounts and the videos trending everywhere on social media paint a haunting picture. A young man, unarmed and pleading, reduced to desperation in his final moments. His voice, like many before him, fell on deaf ears. There was no pause, no restraint, no humanity in the face of vulnerability.
Even when the trigger refused to go off as quickly, there was no stop, no pause to rethink from the officer hellbent on carrying out his misson and as a result, a life cut short too soon.This is not an isolated story. It is a pattern Nigerians know all too well. For years, reports of harassment, intimidation, unlawful arrests, and excessive use of force have followed members of the police force across the country.
From roadside encounters to late-night stops, many Nigerians, especially young people,live with the constant awareness that a simple interaction could spiral into something far more dangerous. The badge, which should symbolize safety, has too often become a source of anxiety and a sign of terror.
We cannot keep treating these incidents as unfortunate anomalies. They are symptoms of a deeper, systemic issue that has been allowed to persist for far too long.There is an urgent need to confront this reality with honesty and resolve. Police brutality in Nigeria is not new, and acknowledging its longevity is the first step toward dismantling it. Calls for reform have echoed for years, growing louder with each incident, yet meaningful change remains frustratingly slow.
Accountability must move beyond statements and promises. Officers who abuse their power must face real, loud and public consequences,not quiet transfers, not temporary suspensions, but justice that is visible and firm. Without this, the cycle will continue, and public trust will keep eroding.
Equally important is the need to weed out those who wear the uniform but lack the discipline, empathy, and integrity it demands. There are undoubtedly officers who serve with honor, but they are overshadowed by those whose actions stain the entire force. A system that protects the bad while silencing the good cannot stand.
Reform must also go deeper than punishment. It must include proper training, psychological evaluation, and a clear redefinition of what policing means in a democratic society. Authority should never come at the expense of humanity. What happened to that young man is more than a headline. It is a raw and uncomfortable reminder that lives are still being lost in circumstances that should never occur. His voice, ignored in his final moments, now echoes in the growing demand for change.
Nigeria stands at a point where silence is no longer acceptable. The question is no longer whether something needs to be done; it is whether there is the will to do it.Because if nothing changes, the next story will not feel unfamiliar. And that, in itself, is the real tragedy.
Covenant Daaor is a Graduate of the Department of Foreign Languages from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun state, and she is currently serving as a Corps Member in the Institute of Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR). She can be reached via covenantedaaorwrk@gmail.com@gmail.com
