The native administration Police forces of Western Nigeria, 1905-1951
Date
1984
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Nigeria
Abstract
Much has been written or native administration in colonial Nigeria. But so far, no work exists on
an situation that was very vital to sustaining the system the police. This work bridges the gap by
examining the origin, development and. role of Native Administration Police in Western Nigeria
from 1905 to 1551.
The study begins with an examination of the colonial exigencies which made the establishment
and. maintenance of police forces by native administrations in Western Nigeria necessary and
permissible. The first two forces were those of Abeokuta and Ibadan which emerged between
1905 and 1907. The process; of establishing more of the forces in other parts of Western Nigeria
is further examined in chapter two Before 1939, the forces were poorly organized; recruitment
into them was based more on patronage than on. merit; recruits were not exposed to any formal
training; and the Native Authorities which controlled .the forces had little or no idea of running
the police. Chapter three examines reforms that were undertaken after 1939 in the recruitment,
training and control of the forces. These reforms were, however, limited because they were not
allembracing and were not comprehensive. The role of the policemen is examined in chapter
four.
Throughout the period under consideration, the Native administration Police Forces were
organized to maintain law and order, a role that was meant to serve the interests of the colonial
masters and their local collaborators called Native Authorities, often at the expense of members
of the public who were usually humiliated, abused and brutalized, The study is concluded with a
summary and a survey of the organisation of the forces in the years after 1951.
Description
113p
Keywords
Administration, Native administration, Colonialism, Law agency, Recruitment, Police force, Western Nigeria