Policing the coronavirus pandemic: Nigeria police senior officers’ views on preparedness, response, legitimacy and post-COVID policing
| Published date | 01 March 2022 |
| DOI | 10.1177/14613557211064048 |
| Author | Richard A. Aborisade,Oluwajuwon G. Ariyo |
| Date | 01 March 2022 |
| Subject Matter | Original Research Articles |
Policing the coronavirus pandemic:
Nigeria police senior officers’views
on preparedness, response, legitimacy
and post-COVID policing
Richard A. Aborisade
(Department of Sociology,) Olabisi Onabanjo University, Nigeria
Oluwajuwon G. Ariyo
(Department of Business Administration and Marketing,) Babcock University, Nigeria
Abstract
In the wake of pandemic policing occasioned by COVID-19, Nigeria police have been facing challenges of a lack of legiti-
macy, together with what is termed the militarization of police operations. This has impacted considerably on police–
community relations. Meanwhile, early reports on the police response to the pandemic indicated high levels of lockdown
violation, despite adoption of a militarized option in the enforcement of restriction orders. In reviewing one of the first
police interventions on a public health crisis in Nigeria, a qualitative study was conducted among top-ranking police offi-
cers who supervised the enforcement of lockdown and other COVID-19 measures. Sixteen interviews were conducted
and a thematic analysis of the narratives was carried out. Police unpreparedness for public health interventions, and public
resistance to the use of repressive, force-led styles of policing were identified as major impediments to positive pandemic
policing. Therefore, police officers are advised to ensure the application of procedurally just practices in their interactions
with the public.
Keywords
COVID-19, Nigeria police, pandemic policing, police legitimacy, procedural justice
Submitted 12 Jun 2020, Revise received 12 Jun 2021, accepted 4 Aug 2021
Introduction
These are unprecedented and uncertain times. The
COVID-19 pandemic continues to constitute a significant
threat to global health. In aligning with other countries,
the government of Nigeria has deployed a variety of mea-
sures to control the spread of the novel coronavirus
(Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, 2020). These measures
include: the closure of airports, seaports and land borders;
isolation and quarantining of persons; banning sporting,
religious and social gatherings; closure of schools and
other learning institutions, restaurants, hotels and public
spaces; and partial or complete ‘lockdown’(AfricLaw,
2020; Aljazeera, 2020). To ensure compliance with
movement restrictions and other mandates accompanying
the COVID-19 measures, the Nigeria police, assisted by
other security services such as the Nigerian army, immigra-
tion and civil defence corps (NCDC), were empowered to
supervise the lockdown orders that took effect from mid-
night on 30 March 2020.
However, between 30 March and May 2020, when the
number of people that had died from coronavirus stood at
Corresponding author:
Richard A. Aborisade, Department of Sociology, Olabisi Onabanjo
University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, Nigeria.
Email: aborisade.richard@oouagoiwoye.edu.ng
Original Research Article
International Journal of
Police Science & Management
2022, Vol. 24(1) 77–88
© The Author(s) 2021
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DOI: 10.1177/14613557211064048
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