Nigeria has witnessed significant civil unrest due to police misconduct. In August 2024, during protests against economic hardship, Nigerian police reportedly used excessive force, resulting in at least 24 deaths. These demonstrations, known as the “#10DaysOfRage” protests, were the largest since the #EndSARS movement in 2020, which also decried police brutality. Despite public outcry, accountability …
Nigeria has witnessed significant civil unrest due to police misconduct. In August 2024, during protests against economic hardship, Nigerian police reportedly used excessive force, resulting in at least 24 deaths. These demonstrations, known as the “#10DaysOfRage” protests, were the largest since the #EndSARS movement in 2020, which also decried police brutality. Despite public outcry, accountability for these actions remains limited.
Police brutality remains a critical human rights issue in Uganda, Nigeria, and Kenya, with numerous reports of excessive force, unlawful arrests, and extrajudicial killings. Despite constitutional guarantees, law enforcement agencies in these countries have been implicated in actions that undermine civil liberties and the rule of law.
Uganda
In Uganda, suppression of dissent is a recurring concern. On April 27, 2023, police arrested 11 female opposition parliamentarians protesting police brutality in Kampala. Earlier, on March 28, 2023, 11 activists were detained during a demonstration against a corruption scandal involving government officials in the Karamoja region. These incidents underscore the Ugandan authorities’ ongoing efforts to stifle peaceful protests and silence opposition voices.
Nigeria
Nigeria has witnessed significant civil unrest due to police misconduct. In August 2024, during protests against economic hardship, Nigerian police reportedly used excessive force, resulting in at least 24 deaths. These demonstrations, known as the “#10DaysOfRage” protests, were the largest since the #EndSARS movement in 2020, which also decried police brutality. Despite public outcry, accountability for these actions remains limited.
Kenya
Kenya has experienced a surge in police violence, particularly during public demonstrations. Between June and December 2024, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights documented 82 cases of enforced disappearances, with 29 individuals still unaccounted for. These incidents often occurred during protests against government policies, where law enforcement agencies employed excessive force to suppress dissent.
Hussein Khalid, CEO of VOCAL Africa, has been a vocal critic of police brutality in Kenya. In October 2024, he was arrested while addressing the media on police misconduct. Khalid stated, “Women are being killed left, right, and centre as the police who have the sworn responsibility to protect them violate their constitutional right to protest.”
Comparative Analysis
While the contexts differ, a common thread in Uganda, Nigeria, and Kenya is the use of excessive force by police to quell protests and silence opposition. This pattern highlights systemic issues within law enforcement agencies, including a lack of accountability and oversight. Addressing these challenges requires comprehensive reforms, adherence to human rights standards, and robust mechanisms to hold perpetrators accountable.
The persistence of police brutality in these nations underscores the urgent need for systemic change to protect citizens’ rights and uphold the rule of law.
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