THE NIGERIAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY
ISSN: 0331-4111 e-ISSN: 2736-075X
Volume 24, No. 1, June 2026
Pages 1-27
DOI: 10.36108/NJSA/6202.42.0110
Gender, Police, and Policing: Reforming Law Enforcement for Equity and Accountability in Zaria Metropolis, Kaduna State, Nigeria
Hauwa’u E. Yusuf1 and Chris Osamudiamen Aimee2
1 Department of Sociology, Kaduna State University, Kaduna State, Nigeria
2 Department of General Studies, Nigerian Institute of Leather and Science Technology, Zaria, Nigeria
Abstract
Gender inequality remains a persistent challenge within policing institutions worldwide, with implications for organizational effectiveness, public trust, and access to justice. Although the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has introduced several reforms aimed at improving gender inclusion, concerns remain regarding women’s representation, workplace experiences, leadership opportunities, and the responsiveness of policing to gender-specific security needs. This study examines gender dynamics within policing institutions in Zaria Metropolis, Kaduna State, with particular attention to institutional equity, organizational culture, accountability mechanisms, and gender-responsive policing practices. A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was employed, involving 100 police personnel selected through stratified sampling from the Sabon Gari and Tudun Wada Police Divisions. Ninety-four valid questionnaires were retrieved and analysed using descriptive statistical techniques. Guided by Intersectionality Theory, the study conceptualizes gender as interacting with institutional hierarchies, organizational culture, and broader socio-political structures to produce differentiated experiences among police personnel and citizens. The findings indicate that while respondents acknowledged the existence of formal policies promoting gender equity, substantial structural barriers continue to constrain women’s participation in operational policing and leadership positions. The study further reveals inconsistencies between institutional policy commitments and everyday policing practices, particularly regarding organizational accountability, promotion opportunities, and gender-sensitive service delivery. These findings suggest that policy reforms alone are insufficient without broader institutional transformation capable of challenging entrenched patriarchal norms and organizational cultures. The paper argues for gender-transformative policing through reforms in recruitment, promotion, professional training, institutional accountability, and community engagement. Such reforms are essential for strengthening police legitimacy, enhancing public confidence, and promoting equitable access to justice in Nigeria.
Keywords:Gender-responsive policing, police accountability, gender equality, Nigeria Police Force