The Police Force as a Facilitator of the Electoral Process: Evidence from the 2015 Elections in Nigeria
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Date
2018-04
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Volume Title
Publisher
A Publication of the Facult of Humanities, Nigeria Police Academy, Wudil Kano
Abstract
The Nigeria Police (NP) is the principal law enforcement agency in Nigeria with a staff strength of about 371,000. There are currently plans to increase the force to 650,000 by adding 280,000 new recruits to the existing 370,000. It is a very large organisation which consists of 36 commands grouped into 12 zones and 7
administrative organs. The force is currently headed by IGP Ibrahim Idris. The police in Nigeria was established as a force (an organisation) in 1820 with officers form present Imo State and
commissioner general, colonel KK as the first pers to attain the highest rank. In 1879, a 1,200 member armed paramilitary Hausa constabulary was formed and by 1896, the Lagos police was established. There was also the formation of the Niger coast constabulary earlier in 1894 in Calabar under the newly proclaimed Niger coast protectorate. In the North the Royal Niger company set up the Royal Niger company constabulary in 1888. On amalgamation in early 1900s, part of the Royal Niger company constabulary became the Northern Nigeria Police while part of the Niger coast constabulary became the Southern Nigeria police. During the colonial era, most police were associated with local governments (native authorities) In the sixties (60s), under the First Republic, these forces were regionalised and nationalised.
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Keywords
Police, Royal Niger, Constabulary, Electoral, Elections