This book offers an historical and contemporary analysis of policing and police-citizen relations in Nigeria, to understand why people co-operate (or don't) with the police. It examines police legitimacy and the validity of procedural justice theory in a post-colonial African context where corruption, brutality and lack of accountability are not uncommon, to find more refined and alternative answers to the question of why people co-operate (or don't) with the police. The history of policing in Nigeria is explored first and then procedural justice theory is tested through an extensive, cross-sectional survey of the public. One of the core findings is that citizens' co-operation with the police is driven less by legitimacy but more by effectiveness considerations and "dull compulsion", a concept akin to legal cynicism. This study represents one of the first attempts to test and understand "dull compulsion" and its relevance in this context. Overall, it develops the field by illustrating that that there are significant variations between contexts when addressing the influence of perceived procedural justice policing on perceptions of police legitimacy, and it explains the implications for policy makers.

1. Introduction

2. Understanding Legitimacy In Weber's Perspectives And In Contemporary Society
3. Procedural Justice, Perceived Legitimacy And Willingness To Cooperate With The Police
4. Can Procedural Justice Nurture Young People's Perceptions Of Police Legitimacy?
5. Use Of Force, Corruption, And Implication For Trust In The Police
6. Procedural (In)Justice, Police Abuse Of Power, And Public Cynicism About The Law
7. Why Do Nigerians Comply With The Law? Assessing The Intersection Between Dull Compulsion, Perceived Legitimacy, And Compliance With The Law
8. Public Satisfaction With The Police: A Study Of Normative Expectations, Procedural Justice, And Treatment Outcome In Nigeria
9. Predatory Policing, Police Abuse, And Implication For Trust And Cooperation With Police
10. Conclusion.