The National Human Rights Commission has urged a major shift toward human rights-based policing in the Federal Capital Territory, as it convened a strategic town hall for Divisional Police Officers to strengthen accountability and professional conduct.
The forum brought together senior officials from the Police Service Commission, the Nigeria Police Force and the NHRC to address frontline policing challenges amid growing calls for accountable security operations.
Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Tony Ojukwu, represented by the Director of Civil and Political Rights, described DPOs as frontline commanders and a vital link between citizens and safety.
He highlighted the newly introduced Police Regulations 2025, launched on April 15, describing them as a benchmark for professional conduct and noting that the framework aligns policing operations with global standards while helping to reduce complaints and litigation.
Director of Civil and Political Rights, Halilu Adamu, said the town hall was designed to deepen understanding of the Anti-Torture Act 2017 and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, while encouraging intelligence-led investigations over coercive methods.
He warned officers against non-compliance, stressing the legal and professional consequences of rights violations.
Also speaking, Deputy Director, Charity C. Orvainya, outlined key provisions of the ACJA, including lawful arrest procedures, detention timelines, bail rights and humane treatment of detainees, while cautioning against proxy arrests and custodial abuses.
Another Deputy Director, Damian Ugwu, focused on torture prevention, urging officers to report abuses and uphold professional ethics.
Representatives of the Police Service Commission and the FCT Police Command commended the initiative and reaffirmed support for reforms aimed at strengthening trust between law enforcement and the public.
Participants said the town hall equipped DPOs with practical tools for ethical policing, with officials expressed hope that the engagement would help drive improved accountability and rights-based law enforcement across the FCT.
