POLICE BRUTALITY IN NIGERIA: AN ANALYSIS OF ENDSARS IN BAUCHI STATE FROM 2019 - 2023.

The study examines police brutality in Nigeria with a focus on Bauchi State, analyzing the EndSARS movement from 2019 to 2023. Police brutality remains a critical issue in Nigeria, with various states experiencing excessive use of force by law enforcement, leading to human rights violations. Bauchi State, like many other regions, has witnessed numerous cases of police misconduct, particularly by the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). The study aims to assess the factors responsible for police brutality in Bauchi State, analyze its effects on the EndSARS movement, and explore possible solutions to curbing this menace. Using the Structural Functional Theory as a guiding framework, the research adopts an exploratory design with a qualitative methodology. In-depth interviews were conducted with purposively selected informants, including victims of police brutality, community leaders, government officials, police personnel, and representatives from NGOs such as Amnesty International and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Thematic content analysis was employed to analyze the data. Findings indicate that police brutality in Bauchi State stems from unprofessional conduct, corruption, lack of accountability, use of illicit substances, inadequate training, and poor welfare for police officers. The study further reveals that police misconduct significantly contributed to the EndSARS protests in Bauchi, as youths mobilized to demand reforms and justice for victims. The study recommends comprehensive police reforms, strict accountability measures, and improved welfare and training for law enforcement officers to curb police brutality in Nigeria. Key Word: Police Brutality, EndSARS Movement, Human Rights Violations, SARS, Structural.