Foundation for Societal Empower and Rejuvenation (FOSEER) is proposing to implement “Know Your Rights to Fight Police BrutalityProject” in consortium with Kings Leodews Initiative (KLI) and Initiative for the Liberalization of Physically Challenged People in Nigeria (ILPCPN). The project aims to reduce police brutality by at least 20% within Bauchi Metropolis through increased knowledge and proper application of civil rights by youth with a knock-on effect on the rest of society. FOSER plans to implement the following actions to achieve these goals:

● Conduct context analysis to identify perceptions of the general public regarding police brutality in Bauchi State.
● Organize engagement programs to sensitize uneducated youth on civil rights.
● Organizesensitization programs to train uneducated youth on how best to react to possible police brutality.
● Facilitate “Civic Education and  Reaction to Police Brutality” lectures.
● Facilitate a “How to Conduct an Ethical and Peaceful Protest” training program for both educated and uneducated youth in order to avoid negative and deadly fallout associated with the #EndSARS protests.
● Staging at least 3 peaceful demonstration rallies to press home the objective of the project.

The project targets 550 individuals who will be the direct beneficiaries of the project while a total of about 20,000 youth will be indirectly reached through the project.

Know Your Rights: Empowering Communities Against Police Brutality in Nigeria

For many communities in Nigeria, encounters with law enforcement are often marked by fear rather than trust. Cases of police brutality, unlawful arrests, and human rights abuses remain widespread, particularly among marginalized groups. The Know Your Rights (KYR) Project, led by the Foundation for Societal Empowerment and Rejuvenation (FOSER), was launched to change this by educating rightsholders about their civil rights, equipping them with legal tools, and fostering a culture of accountability between citizens and law enforcement.

Through community engagement, advocacy, and legal support, the project helped reduce incidents of police violence and empowered individuals to demand justice when their rights were violated. The initiative not only increased awareness but also paved the way for stronger collaboration between communities, legal institutions, and security agencies to ensure lasting reform.

The core of the KYR project was educating citizens on their rights and providing them with practical tools to navigate law enforcement interactions safely. Through a combination of town hall meetings, media campaigns, and legal training sessions, the project helped rightsholders:

• Gain knowledge of civil rights and legal protections under Nigerian law.
• Report cases of police misconduct through accessible legal channels.
• Advocate for systemic changes in law enforcement policies.

A critical component of the project was its innovative sensitization programs. Leveraging both traditional media (radio programs, community workshops) and social media outreach, KYR was able to reach a broad audience—including both educated and uneducated youth.

A key success story from the project was Altine Dauda, a widow whose husband was killed by the police over a trivial issue. After learning about her legal options through KYR’s live radio program, she filed a case against the Nigeria Police Force at the Federal High Court. On June 3, 2022, the court ruled in her favor, awarding 50 million naira in compensation to her family. Although the police had not fully honored the ruling, KYR continued to support her case, using social media advocacy to keep public attention on the matter.

This case demonstrated the power of legal knowledge and collective advocacy in holding law enforcement accountable.

Strengthening Community-Law Enforcement Relationships

Rather than positioning itself solely as an adversarial movement against police misconduct, KYR also worked towards building a bridge between communities and security agencies. By involving traditional leaders, community stakeholders, and law enforcement representatives, the project fostered dialogue that helped reduce tensions and improve mutual understanding.

The project’s collaboration with security agencies contributed to:

• A decrease in reported cases of police brutality in participating communities.
• Improved communication between rightsholders and law enforcement, reducing incidents of arbitrary arrests.
• Stronger community-led advocacy efforts, where citizens actively monitored and reported human rights abuses.

Through this approach, KYR helped reframe law enforcement not as an untouchable force, but as a public institution that must be held to account.

Challenges and Lessons Learned

Despite its successes, the KYR project faced several challenges. Reaching certain marginalized groups proved difficult due to cultural barriers and logistical constraints, limiting engagement in some communities. Additionally, attendance at sensitization programs was sometimes lower than expected, highlighting the need for stronger outreach strategiesin future initiatives.

Another key challenge was balancing digital and traditional media outreach. While social media allowed for widespread awareness, it was sometimes difficult to measure its direct impact compared to in-person engagement.Understanding which platforms resonated most with the target audience became a crucial lesson for optimizing communication strategies.

Through these experiences, KYR learned that:

• Community-led initiatives create the most sustainable impact. Training rightsholders to take ownership of advocacy efforts ensures long-term change.
• Collaboration with multiple stakeholders (law enforcement, legal institutions, civil society) is key. Building partnerships strengthens accountability mechanisms and improves police-community relations.
• Legal advocacy must be paired with public awareness. Changing institutional behavior requires both policy engagement and grassroots education to shift societal attitudes.

Looking Ahead: Sustaining the Movement for Justice

While the KYR project has officially concluded, its impact continues. Moving forward, FOSER aims to:

• Expand legal empowerment programs to reach more marginalized communities.
• Strengthen policy advocacy efforts to push for police reform at the national level.
• Provide ongoing legal support for individuals facing unlawful police action.