Ensuring justice for Mene Ogidi
Sir: The swift response by the Nigeria Police Force to the case of Mene Ogidi, extra-judicially killed by the police in Delta State, is commendable. Accountability in a single incident,
Sir: The swift response by the Nigeria Police Force to the case of Mene Ogidi, extra-judicially killed by the police in Delta State, is commendable. Accountability in a single incident, however, cannot be mistaken for systemic reform. If justice stops at punishment, we risk repeating the cycle. This moment must mark the beginning of a deeper transformation, one that redefines the relationship between the police and the citizens they serve.
First, there is an urgent need to overhaul the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) governing use of force. Current practices remain opaque, inconsistently applied, and often in conflict with international human rights standards. A comprehensive review should align Nigeria’s SOPs with the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms, ensuring that lethal force is a last resort and that every officer understands the legal and ethical boundaries of their authority.
Alongside this, Force Order 237, which regulates the use of firearms, must move from paper to practice. Enforcement cannot be selective. Regular audits, body-worn cameras, and public reporting of firearms-related incidents would strengthen compliance and rebuild public trust.
Second, Nigerian policing must transition from a culture of fear to one of consent. The Peel principles that guide policing in democracies like the United Kingdom hold that “the police are the public and the public are the police.” Training must prioritize de-escalation, communication, and lawful arrest procedures. Every recruit should be rigorously drilled in cautioning suspects properly as a basic safeguard of due process. Respect for rights is not a weakness; it is the foundation of legitimate authority.
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Third, weapon deployment requires urgent rethinking. Lethal and less-lethal weapons should not be carried by all officers by default. International best practice restricts firearms to specially trained units, while equipping regular patrol officers with tasers, pepper spray, and other de-escalation tools. This reduces fatal encounters and gives officers graduated options to manage threats.
Fourth, accountability mechanisms must be independent, transparent, and victim-centred. The Police Service Commission and internal disciplinary units should publish quarterly data on misconduct cases, disciplinary actions, and compensation to victims. Community policing boards, with civil society and youth representation, should have real oversight powers at divisional levels. Without external scrutiny, internal reform stalls.
Finally, the vision should be clear: a Nigeria where police officers are as approachable, professional, and trusted as those on the streets of London, Accra, or Kigali. That future is possible, but it demands political will, consistent funding for retraining, and public pressure that outlives the news cycle. Justice for Mene Ogidi must not end with one prosecution. It should be the catalyst that institutionalizes respect for life, due process, and policing by consent.
Lasting reform, not episodic outrage, is the true measure of justice.
•Akinola Ayobami Steven, akinolaayobamisteven@gmail.com
