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This paper examines the role of the Nigerian Police Force in protecting human rights as it discharged its constitutional responsibilities between 1966 and 1998. Nigeria has experienced political instability, military coups, and authoritarian rule, leaving the Police to manage the consequences during these periods. The Police, as an instrument of state power, have often assumed this crucial role by ensuring that there is law and order. In enforcing law and order, the Police usually fail to adhere to state and international human rights standards. Relying on qualitative methods for analysis and written and unwritten sources for documentation, the paper finds that the role of the Nigerian Police Force in human rights protection has been largely ignored, with much emphasis focusing on police brutality, torture, excessive use of force, extrajudicial executions of suspects, as well as other unprofessional acts. Thus, this paper argues that the Nigerian Police Force has made remarkable achievements in combating the tide of criminality in society, which would have otherwise led to human rights violations by criminal elements. The paper also agrees that police human rights records have been abysmal, which has affected citizens ' police relations. The paper recommends sustained efforts to professionalise the Nigeria Police Force and implement measures aimed at promoting accountability within the institution.

Nigeria, Police, Human Rights, Violations, People,