Torture and Ill-Treatment by the Nigerian Police Force: A Study of Complaints in Abuja

This research examines allegations of torture and ill-treatment by officers of the Nigerian Police Force in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, situating the analysis within Nigeria's obligations under the UN Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UNCAT) and the Constitution's prohibition of torture under Section 34(1)(a). Following the October 2020 #EndSARS protests against police brutality, public discourse on systematic torture by Nigerian security forces has intensified. This study employs a qualitative methodology, drawing on complaint records from the National Human Rights Commission, interviews with survivors and their legal representatives, and case files from civil society organizations including Amnesty International Nigeria. Court records of successful torture-related civil suits filed in Abuja courts between 2021 and 2024 are also examined. Key findings reveal a pattern of custodial torture during interrogation, inadequate investigation of torture complaints, and near-total impunity for offending officers. The study identifies structural factors, including inadequate disciplinary oversight by the Police Service Commission and the absence of independent custodial monitoring, as enabling conditions for torture. Recommendations include enactment of an anti-torture act, establishment of independent police oversight bodies, and mandatory video surveillance of all police detention facilities. Keywords: torture, police brutality, Nigerian Police Force, UNCAT, Abuja.