Analysis of the Use of Social Media in Nigerian Police in Community Engagement in Enugu State (A Study of Ogui Police Station)

Community policing has increasingly relied on digital platforms to bridge the historic trust deficit between security forces and the public, yet empirical evidence on police social media use in Nigeria remains limited. This study analysed the use of social media by the Nigerian Police for community engagement, with a focus on Ogui Police Station in Enugu State. The study was anchored on the Two-Way Symmetrical Communication Model developed by Grunig and Hunt, which advocates for mutual dialogue and relationship-building between organisations and their publics. A descriptive survey design was employed, targeting community members and police personnel within the Ogui Division. A sample of 120 respondents was selected using purposive and random sampling techniques, with a structured questionnaire used as the instrument of data collection. Findings revealed that while Ogui Police Station maintains some social media presence, its usage is largely one-directional and inconsistent, characterised by infrequent postings and limited responsiveness to public inquiries. Community members expressed moderate awareness of police social media accounts but reported low satisfaction with the quality of engagement. The study concluded that the potential of social media for transformative police-community relations in Enugu State remains largely unrealised due to inadequate strategy and capacity. It was recommended that the Nigeria Police Force develop a structured social media engagement policy and train officers in digital communication to foster credible, responsive, and community-centred online interactions.

Keywords: Social media, Nigerian Police, community engagement, Ogui Police Station, digital communication