POLICE URGED TO SUSTAINED HUMAN RIGHTS AFTER TRAINING WITH ASF FRANCE BY: ENOCK REUBEN

Towards the forthcoming coming 2023 general elections in Nigeria, Lawyer Without Border has concluded the training of Officers of Police Complaints Response Unit (PCRU) of Nigeria Police Force on human rights in Abuja. The two days training was organised by Avocats Sans Frontières France (ASF France), in collaboration with the Canadian High Commission in Nigeria through its Canadian Fund for Local Initiatives Funding for 2022/2023 plans. The program was also been harmonized by ASF France in collaboration with its local partners, the Nigerian Bar Association, tagged “Strengthening the National Actors Capacities and Advocating for Ending Severe Human Rights Violations in Nigeria project”, it was map out to address human rights violations, torture, arbitrary detention and extra-judicial killings. ASF France also acclaimed that the scheme was to train officers of the PCRU on response to human rights violations in the country and to also advance the United Nations Convention Against Torture. The training focused on consolidating the knowledge gains of the first, second and third training on human rights for security agencies in Lagos State. Modus operandi of security agencies was examined with respect to human rights laws and regulations. However, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), said the protection of human rights is more crucial in areas of law enforcement and military functions. The executive secretary, NHRC, Tony Ojukwu, SAN, who spoke during the session noted that, “While acknowledging the important role of the Nigerian police as contemplated by the Police Act, it is important for the police to carry out its functions in compliance with human rights standards. Indeed, the Police Act confers on the police the responsibility of crime prevention, protection of lives and property, investigation and prosecution of suspects, amongst others. This capacity-building engagement is a response to periodic yell against the police in various parts of the country, including the FCT, Abuja bordering on unlawful or prolonged detention without trial, excessive use of force, extra judicial killing, torture, inhuman and degrading treatment.” ASF, France, Country Director, (Nigeria), Angela Uzoma-Iwuchukwu, also stress the importance of the training and other involvement of the ASF, while adding that there’s a need for the police to respect and protect human integrity. She further reiterate that “ASF has been at the forefront of pushing the campaign against torture in Nigeria. Also by extension calling for an end to impunity to human rights violation especially the security agencies. In the past couple of years there has been some progress made, on our part we have continue to support constitutional reforms by providing support. For example, the police complaint response unit CPRU, who are the internal accountability mechanism within the Nigerian police force for checkmating excesses of police officers and by providing capacity building effort and support to this unit. ASF is helping to improve not just accountability but also to promote access to justice for victims of human rights violations.” The Canadian High Commissioner, Nigeria, Jamie Christoff, while acknowledging the efforts of ASF France during his remark, stressed the need for zero tolerance to human rights violations and the need to strengthen institutions for a better society.

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