Despite the incessant security challenges bedeviling the country,the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has remained consistent in training personnel of the Nigeria Police Force on the tenets of human rights which was described as a necessity for effective policing.
Executive Secretary of the Commission Chief Tony Ojukwu (SAN) stated this in Abuja during his welcome address at the two-day training on mainstreaming human rights into the operations of law enforcement personnel in Nigeria.
According to the NHRC Helmsman, the training was organised by the Commission in partnership with the Nigeria Police Force, CLEEN Foundation, Mac Arthur Foundation, and Network of Police Reform in Nigeria (NOPRIN).
The NHRC Boss observed that policing the civilian population thrown up various human rights challenges, which according to him has necessitated such capacity building, bearing in mind the important role conferred on the Police which is mainly the protection of lives and property, prevention, detection and investigation of crime and prosecution of offenders.
Ojukwu reiterated that the protection of human rights remained crucial in law enforcement operations because the officials most of the time carry with them elements of force which often degenerate into violations of human rights especially where there is misuse of force or power.
He emphasized that “International standards have been set for the protection of human rights in these areas; these standards safeguard against tyranny, oppression and impunity and constitute checks on those who exercise such powers”.
In her remarks, the Director Human Rights Institute, Mrs Ifeoma Nwakama, who also doubled as the Project Coordinator restated the need to identify gaps and improve on the standard of operations by personnel of the Police force. She said the nationwide training was part of a bigger project tagged, “Strengthening Police Reform in Nigeria” which is implemented by the Commission, the Office of the Vice President, RULAAC and CSOs.
Assistant Commissioner of Police, of the Criminal Investigation Department, Plateau State Command, Bawa Saleh in his goodwill message expressed optimism for a good outcome of the training, stated that it was apt and will provide a platform for participants to express their challenges in the course of their operations.
ACP Bawa Saleh who is also the Desk Officer for Human Rights in the Plateau state Command said “this is an avenue for participants to lay bare their practical experience in the course of their work and communicate their challenges”.
Participants were drawn from Plateau, Niger, Nasarawa, Benue and FCT police Command.
