The
attention of the Nigeria Police has been drawn to an on-line publication
entitled ‘Welcome to Hell-Fire’: torture and other ill-treatment in Nigeria.
While we do
not question the freedom of Amnesty International to earn its relevance and
bread, the Nigeria Police takes serious exceptions to some blatant falsehoods
and innuendoes contained in that report.
For one, it
smacks of indecency and intemperate language to liken our dear
nation Nigeria, to hell fire. That cannot be true. We believe that Nigeria is a
growing nation, green and largely peaceful.
While the
Nigeria Police and other operators in the criminal justice sector are
undergoing systematic reforms, and aligning themselves with the demands of
democracy, there is no gain saying the fact that the Nigeria Police Force has
since improved its operational efficiency and effectiveness. Since the dawn of
democracy in 1999, the Nigeria Police Force has significantly improved on its
human rights records, owing largely to training and re-training, community
policing, attitudinal change and structural transformation.
In its
report under reference, Amnesty International did admit in its methodology that
it visited some Police Formations and interviewed some family members of
suspects. At no time in its report, did Amnesty speak or interface with the
Police authorities. This obviously shows their disdain and apparent lack of
character where the democratic tenets of fair hearing are concerned.
The report
covered a seven year period of 2007-2014. I dare say that some of the issues
raised have since been dispensed with and settled.
Of a truth,
torture or ill-treatment is not, repeat, NOT an official policy of the Nigeria
Police.
The Code of
Conduct of Officers, as well as our Regulations prohibit torture and incivility
to members of the public. We are versed with international best practices, and
the dictates of the Nigerian Constitution as regards human rights. So the
Police do not routinely torture suspects. It is not systemic or endemic.
Whenever instances of human rights abuses are brought to the notice of
superintending officers, the offending personnel are promptly sanctioned in
line with the laws and regulations. For the avoidance of doubt, Nigeria Police
Force has a zero tolerance for corruption and abuse of power. There is no
Immunity for impunity in Nigeria Police Force.
Besides, the
Nigeria Police is women-friendly. We do not target sex workers, nor routinely
adopt rape as a weapon. Instead, the Police has established a family and human
trafficking unit to protect the rights of women, children and the vulnerable
members of our society.
However, the
Nigeria Police Force shall meticulously scan through the document, and
investigate any current human rights abuses linked to any officer or formation.
Any identified and established case of malfeasance or misconduct shall be
treated in line with the laws and regulations.
We crave the
indulgence of Amnesty International to, for the first time, furnish the Police
with specific details of its allegations to enable us reach the ends of justice
for the alleged victims, and to improve our service delivery.
The Nigeria
Police Force remains responsive to the yearnings of Nigerians for improved
safety and security.
Ag.CP EMMANUEL OJUKWU, psc
FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER,
FORCE HEADQUARTERS,
FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER,
FORCE HEADQUARTERS,
Tags
Society