{
  "id": 4588907,
  "title": "Corruption, others reducing confidence in police — study",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/corruption-others-reducing-confidence-in-police-study",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-31T05:05:27.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Trust",
    "slug": "daily-trust",
    "url": "https://dailytrust.com/corruption-others-reducing-confidence-in-police-study/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A new study has revealed that corruption and misconduct among Nigerian police officers are significantly undermining public confidence in the Nigeria Police Force (NPF). Conducted by James Ojo Adakole and published in IRE Journals, the research surveyed 256 Nigerians to gauge public trust and perception of the police, and how these attitudes impact intelligence sharing in the country's fight against insecurity. The study found that 84.8% of respondents believed corruption and misconduct erode their confidence in the NPF, while 85.2% disagreed with the force's fair and unbiased treatment of citizens. Furthermore, 67.6% reported that police officers in their areas fail to conduct themselves professionally with the public. The study also highlighted a lack of trust in the NPF's ability to protect lives and property in communities, with 62.9% of respondents expressing distrust in the force's protective capabilities and 72.7% lacking confidence in the police's effectiveness in responding to security threats. This trust deficit, the researchers discovered, directly impacts citizens' willingness to share intelligence with the police. Despite 74.6% of respondents expressing willingness to report suspicious activities and 84.4% to share security information, cooperation with the police is closely tied to citizens' level of trust. For instance, 52% of respondents stated that their willingness to share intelligence depends on their trust in the police, and 88.7% said they would be more willing to cooperate if that trust improved. Fear of intimidation or victimization was also a significant barrier, with 68.4% of respondents unwilling to share intelligence due to safety concerns, and only 35.2% trusting the police to handle citizens' information confidentially. To overcome these challenges, the study recommends that the NPF focus on eliminating corrupt officers, provide regular training on public engagement, and hold community sessions to address grievances. The researchers emphasized the importance of the study given the crucial role citizen-led intelligence plays in addressing rising insecurity in Nigeria. They concluded that the police must intensify efforts to build trust and address negative perceptions of the force through professionalism and improved efficiency in the discharge of its constitutional duties to successfully combat rising criminal networks that have made many Nigerians feel unsafe.",
  "summary": "A new study has found that corruption and misconduct among police officers are significantly reducing public confidence in the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and affecting citizens’ willingness to share intelligence with the force. The research, conducted by James Ojo Adakole and published in IRE Journals, surveyed 256 Nigerians, to assess public trust and perception of […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}