SUPERIORITY COMPLEX AND POLICE BRUTALITY IN NIGERIA

Excessive use of force or high-handed or police brutality against suspects or bystanders hasbeen a recurring decimal in Nigeria since the colony days. This research sought to investigatethe influence of the superiority complex exhibited by Nigerian police officers as a cause forpolice brutality in Nigeria. A survey research design was adopted for the study. One state persix geo-political zones was selected to ensure the effective gathering of data. Structuredquestionnaires with multiple options were distributed to respondents in six sampled states ofone state per geo-political zone. A total of 5, 837 samples size derived from selected statesfrom the six geo-political zones were adopted for the study. Data derived from the field surveywere subjected to a chi-square test of the significant relationship between the study variables.The findings of the study show that police brutality stems from the psychological problemsassociated with a superiority complex which makes the Nigerian Police officers feel anddemonstrate superiority to the Nigerian masses which they were employed to serve andprotect. It was also found that the public reaction to police brutality is either throughaggressive violent protest or regressive verbal condemnation. The study recommendationssuggested some remedies such as psychological and criminal background checks ofapplicants and regular orientation programmes and conferences should be held for theNigeria Police Force to educate them on their duty call to serve not to threaten the public.