POLICE BRUTALITY AND THE DEATH OF DEMOCRACY IN NIGERIA: WILL A NATION BE AT WAR WITH ITS PEOPLE?
By Daniel Okonkwo
In what amounts to a gross violation of constitutional liberties and a direct affront to the democratic ethos, the Nigerian Police Force has once again drawn widespread condemnation for its unlawful suppression of peaceful protesters across multiple states. The#RepealTheCyberCrimeAct demonstrations, led by the Take-It-Back Movement and supported by civil society actors and concerned Nigerians, have exposed a dangerous pattern of authoritarian tactics, including extrajudicial arrests, unlawful use of force, and infringements on press freedom.
On Monday, April 7, in Abuja, protesters converged peacefully by 9:00 am to express opposition to the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015 was a law initially intended to combat digital crime but is now widely regarded as a legislative weapon against free expression and dissent. Rather than engage in dialogue as required under a participatory democracy, law enforcement officials employed disproportionate force, deploying tear gas and physical aggression to disperse unarmed civilians—an act in clear violation of Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) which guarantees the right to peaceful assembly and association.
Members of the press, civil society representatives, and human rights advocates were physically assaulted, detained, and silenced—a clear breach of Section 39, which protects freedom of expression, including freedom to receive and impart information. Across Lagos, Rivers, Oyo, Yobe, and other states, similar incidents were reported, marking a coordinated state effort to intimidate and criminalize legitimate civil advocacy.
In Yobe, security forces arrested five peaceful protesters, including the state coordinator of the Take-It-Back Movement. In Rivers, journalists covering the demonstrations were violently targeted. In Abuja, popular digital activist ‘Flag Boy’ and three others were detained, evidencing a deliberate crackdown on digital dissent and freedom of information. These acts constitute arbitrary arrests and unlawful detention, prohibited under Section 35 of the Constitution and international human rights instruments to which Nigeria is a signatory, such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
The irony is stark: these violations occurred on National Police Day, a date meant to accentuate service, integrity, and accountability. Instead, it became a theater for state-sanctioned repression. The Take-It-Back Movement used the day to urge the police to support the repeal of the Cybercrimes Act, emphasizing that the same legislation is also used to undermine their rights as state agents, keeping them underpaid, under-equipped, and undervalued, despite their constitutional duty to protect life and property.
Omoyele Sowore, renowned human rights advocate and former presidential candidate, condemned the actions of the police, stating:
> “How can those who are fighting for your improved wages and dignity become your enemies?”
This piercing question stresses the tragic misalignment between law enforcement and civic interest. When those advocating for institutional reform and better welfare for police officers are criminalized, democracy is reduced to a hollow performance devoid of substance.
The Cybercrimes Act of 2015, though created to provide a robust framework for cybersecurity, has increasingly been wielded as an instrument of oppression. Provisions of the Act, particularly those relating to cyberstalking and criminal defamation, have been applied disproportionately and unconstitutionally to target journalists, critics, whistleblowers, and activists. This abuse undermines the spirit of the Act and violates established legal doctrines of proportionality, due process, and legitimate aim.
Democracy, by definition, is a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. It rests on popular sovereignty, the rule of law, accountability, and the protection of fundamental rights. These include the right to free speech, freedom of assembly, and access to information. Any action that obstructs these rights constitutes a breach of democratic governance and invites domestic and international scrutiny.
#RepealTheCyberCrimeAct protests reveal a systemic erosion of constitutional order. The Nigerian state must confront a stark choice: continue down the path of legal authoritarianism, or embrace the democratic principles enshrined in its constitution. Police repression, media censorship, and digital intimidation are not signs of strength—they are symptoms of a democracy in crisis.
The Nigerian government must immediately. Release all unlawfully detained protesters and activists. Conduct an independent investigation into police brutality and hold perpetrators accountable.
Review and amend the Cybercrimes Act to align with constitutional safeguards and international human rights standards.
Reaffirm its commitment to civil liberties, press freedom, and democratic accountability.
#RepealTheCyberCrimeAct is not merely a movement—it is a constitutional demand for justice, reform, and democratic renewal.
Nigeria must not be a nation at war with its people.
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| POLICE BRUTALITY AND THE DEATH OF DEMOCRACY IN NIGERIA: WILL A NATION BE AT WAR WITH ITS PEOPLE? |
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