Checkpoint Policing and the Crisis of Extortion: A Sociological Analysis of Public Trust in the Nigeria Police Force

Abstract

Police checkpoints are established to prevent crime, regulate traffic, detect security threats, and protect citizens. However, allegations of extortion at checkpoints have increasingly complicated police–citizen relations in Nigeria and may undermine public confidence in law-enforcement institutions. This study examines the relationship between checkpoint extortion and public trust in the Nigeria Police Force, with particular attention to citizens’ willingness to cooperate with the police. A quantitative cross-sectional survey design was adopted, using a structured questionnaire administered to 400 respondents sampled through accidental sampling procedure. Data were analyzed using frequency and percentage distributions, cross-tabulation, and Pearson’s Chi-Square test at the 0.05 significance level. The illustrative findings indicate that 77.25% of respondents had experienced checkpoint extortion, while 60.0% reported low or no trust in the police. Furthermore, 77.5% agreed that checkpoint extortion diminishes public trust. Chi-Square results indicate significant relationships between checkpoint extortion and public trust (χ² = 88.89, df = 1, p <.001). The study concludes that checkpoint extortion constitutes a significant threat to trust in police and weakens the citizens' perception of the police legitimacy. This can subsequently undermine effective and sustainable policing of the society.