A young woman in uniform, tears streaming down her face, marches toward her family at her police passing-out parade. They embrace her, crying with pride, celebrating her journey; the long nights of training, the sacrifices, the hopes for a better future.

But the comment section tells a different story.

“She’d soon start collecting bribes on the road.”
“Why waste years in a corrupt system?”
“Police job isn’t a commendable one.”

Only few congratulated. No recognition of her achievement. Just scorn, mockery, and a deep distrust for the uniform she now wears.

This is the state of the Nigerian police force; not just in the barracks or on the streets, but in the minds of the people. The uniform that once symbolized duty and protection is now seen as a badge of corruption. The people who swore to serve and protect are, in the eyes of many, little more than state-sponsored extortionists. And the saddest part? This perception isn’t entirely baseless.

Years of unchecked corruption, brutality, and inefficiency have reduced public confidence in the police to almost nothing. Nigerians no longer differentiate between the system and the individual. They see a police officer, and they see the same force that extorts, harasses, and sometimes even kills those it should protect.

But should this young woman, and others like her, be condemned before she even begins? Should the sins of the system define every officer? Patriotism isn’t blind loyalty, but it also isn’t hopelessness. If every good person rejects the force, who then will change it?

Nigeria’s police force is broken, but it isn’t beyond repair. Instead of discouraging those who join with a heart to serve, we should demand better training, better leadership, and better accountability. We should hold the system responsible while supporting those who seek to make a difference within it.

The tears that young officer shed were real. They were the tears of a Nigerian who dared to hope in a country where hope is constantly tested. Maybe, just maybe, instead of tearing her down, we should give her a chance.