A cross section of residents of Lagos State has expressed dissatisfaction with the attitude of some police personnel toward civilians, describing their conduct as uncivil and unprofessional.

The respondents made the assertion in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos.

They said many police officers still exhibited rude behaviour both at work and in their interactions with the public, in spite of the sustained reformation campaigns by the National Orientation Agency (NOA).

The residents described acts of alleged misconduct, high-handedness, unfriendliness, and unprofessionalism as negating the true essence of policing.

According to them, allegations of extortion, brutality, rights abuses, intimidation, and profiling have eroded public trust in law enforcement.

For many, such incidents overshadow the principles of community policing and raise urgent questions about accountability and the effectiveness of Nigeria’s security system.

A victim who spoke to NAN alleged that three policemen apprehended and extorted him in the Isheri area of Lagos State.

“I was rough-handled and dragged into their stationary vehicle. They accused me of being a ‘Yahoo boy’ because of my dreadlocks,” he said.

He claimed the officers threatened him, searched his belongings, and demanded money even though they found nothing incriminating.

“They cocked their guns and made me show them my account balance.

”They demanded ₦100,000 out of the ₦151,000 I had, threatening to shoot me and falsify charges if I refused. I eventually parted with ₦30,000 out of fear,” he said.

Similarly, a community member in Ayobo narrated how a robbery suspect handed over to the police was released shortly afterward.

“We caught a suspect who burgled a house to steal a laptop. At the station, the police collected ₦3,000 before allowing us to write a statement.

“Days later, the suspect was back in the community. We heard his accomplices had settled the police.

“This is why some residents resort to jungle justice — there’s no confidence in the system.

“The police say, ‘security is everybody’s business; if you see something, say something.’ But how can people cooperate when suspects buy their freedom?” he asked.

He added that residents would be reluctant to report security threats if such practices continued.

A teacher, who spoke on condition of anonymity, also alleged that police attempted to arraign his brother after a neighbour falsely accused him of stealing a phone in their Ipaja residence.

“My brother was detained, but the next day the complainant returned to say the phone had been found with his son.

“In spite of this, the officers insisted on pressing charges. It took the intervention of a senior officer known to our family to secure his release,” he said.

Bayo Adekunle, a banker, said that as a taxpayer, he expected better service and accountability from the police. He urged NOA to intensify its collaboration with the police, particularly those on highways and in remote areas, to curb bribery and extortion.

“Our uniformed men collect bribes with impunity, caring less about what the public thinks.

“How can we improve as a society when people can bribe their way out of wrongdoing?

“In some countries, bribery is a capital offence. This must be addressed if we want Nigeria to be great again,” he said.

However, some residents acknowledged that there had been gradual improvements within the police force, particularly with the NOA’s renewed reform campaigns.

An officer of the Lagos Neighbourhood Security Watch, Alaba Shofolahun, commended the police for improvements in crime tracking and intelligence gathering.

“The speed and efficiency with which police now track and apprehend criminals is commendable.

“We should praise their efforts to encourage them to do more instead of only criticising their shortcomings,” he said.

Shofolahun added that recognition of positive conduct could further motivate officers to improve.

Kemi Fatokun, a student of Lagos State University, also attested to the presence of good officers within the force.

“Last week, I got stranded in Ajah late at night. A police officer helped me find my way and ensured I got to my destination safely without collecting anything from me.

"I was surprised — we still have good people in the force,” she said.

Fatokun expressed hope that the collaboration between the police and NOA would further influence officers to adopt positive attitudes for the good of society.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Olohundare Jimoh, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to strengthening community collaboration and rebuilding public trust through proactive engagement and better service delivery.

Speaking in Ikeja during a stakeholders’ forum marking Customer Service Week, Jimoh said “effective policing begins with understanding community priorities.

“Community policing requires listening to the people, understanding their challenges, and integrating their feedback into security strategies,” he said.

He urged residents to see the police as partners in peacebuilding, noting that early intervention in disputes helped prevent crime.

Addressing concerns about misconduct, Jimoh restated that “bail is free” and warned against extortion, assuring that disciplinary measures were in place for erring officers.

“Report any officer who demands payment for bail. All police services remain free; extortion in any form will not be tolerated,” he said.

Jimoh added that ongoing engagement with the public would help assess police performance and build a more people-centered security system.

“We are entering a new phase of engagement — not just waiting for people to come to us but going to them to strengthen cooperation.

“The public should expect more friendliness, empathy, and community-driven interventions.

“We urge residents to continue partnering with the police to maintain peace and security across the state,” Jimoh said.

Credit NAN: Texts excluding Headline