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NHRC Calls for an End in Torture by Security Agencies

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NHRC Calls for an End in Torture by Security Agencies

NHRC Calls for an End in Torture by Security Agencies

…. Asks Government to Put Mechanism in Place Against Terrorism, Banditry

By: Michael Mike

The National Human Rights Commission NHRC has spoken against torture by security and other law enforcement officials in the country on citizens.

The Commission called on government and stakeholders at all levels to work harder to ensure that torture, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment  meted out on citizens by security and law enforcement personnel is completely eradicated in the society, even as it called on government to immediately put mechanism in place to check against terrorism, kidnapping and armed banditry.

The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Chief Tony Ojukwu, made the call in Abuja during the celebration of the 2022 International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. 

Speaking at the weekend at the event commemorating the day that is observed globally on 26 June every year, the Executive Secretary called on security agencies to desist from any form of torture, inhuman and degrading treatment while carrying out their operations, urging them to embrace international best practices in conducting investigations which according to him gives high regard to respect for human rights. 

Ojukwu equally expressed concern over private citizens’ involvement in this ugly practice, describing it as deeply disturbing to the Commission.

Also Read: FG restates commitment to support NYSC scheme, corps…

According to him, “the international event is significant because it provides the opportunity to reassess the conduct of law enforcement agencies, groups, and individuals in order to ensure that they operate within the ambit of national, regional, or international law.

While expressing worries over the spate of torture and other related human rights violations which comes in various forms especially police brutality, domestic violence, assault, rape, kidnap, etc., the Learned Silk lamented that “although Nigeria has ratified several major international human rights treaties and has also passed the Anti- Torture Act 2017 into law, torture still remains a tool used by security agents for interrogating and intimidating suspects “.

He lamented that violation of the right to freedom from torture and ill-treatment has remained one of Nigeria’s highest recorded human rights violations. He said: “A good number of the complaints treated by the Commission during the Independent Investigative Panel on Alleged Human Rights Violations by  Officers of the disbanded Special  Anti-Robbery Squad and other Units of the Nigeria Police relates to several incidents of torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment by the Police, our records are there to show.”

He further stated that the Commission has conducted several trainings and developed manuals on mainstreaming human rights in the operations of the law enforcement officials including those involved in counter-insurgency operations in the northeast. Similarly, he said the Commission has embarked on a series of advocacy visits and conducted inspections in detention facilities across the country to ensure that their operations are in line with international human rights standards.

He added that: “Where we are not satisfied with what we observe, we make recommendations to appropriate authorities for improvement.”

He equally called on the government to up its game in providing the needed security to everyone living in Nigeria in order to protect them from falling victims of the dreaded kidnap activities which have recently become the order of the day, expressing concern that many victims have lost their lives as a result of the inhuman treatment in which they are subjected to. 

He said: “The government must put a mechanism in place to get rid of these syndicates and prosecute those of them that have been arrested to serve as a deterrent to others.”

NHRC Calls for an End in Torture by Security Agencies

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Bandits kill 12 in Kwara community attack

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Bandits kill 12 in Kwara community attack

By: Zagazola Makama

Suspected bandits on Sunday attacked Hybrid Force camp in Oke Ode, Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara, killing 12 people.

Zagazola learnt that the attack occurred at about 8:50 a.m. when the gunmen stormed the community.

Troops from a patrol base in Babanla were immediately mobilised to the scene, but the attackers fled before their arrival.

A search of the area by the troops led to the discovery of 12 lifeless bodies comprising nine vigilantes and three civilians killed during the attack.

The corpses of the deceased were evacuated to Oke Ode Police Station while troops restored calm in the area.

The source said the general security situation in the area remained calm but unpredictable.
Bandits kill 12 in Kwara community attack

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Again suspected Boko Haram insurgents return to Kirawa with damnation

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Again suspected Boko Haram insurgents return to Kirawa with damnation

By: Bodunrin Kayode

Boko Haram Insurgents have again attacked Kirawa a border community in Borno state killing a civilian joint task force (CJTF) member and wounding several others in the process.

The Boko Haram insurgents ambushed the commuters driving into Kirawa a community in Bama council area and killed the CJTF in the process.

To punish some of the commuters further for fleeing away from the scene of the ambush, the insurgents burned down some of their vehicles before returning into the bush unchallenged.

After the attack died down, some motorists and passengers who sustained different degrees of injuries were treated in nearby clinics.

Sources revealed that trouble started when six vehicles loaded with food items and other luggages were ambushed and set ablaze by the insurgents along the Pulka-Kirawa road on Friday last week.

Senator representing Borno South, Mohammed Ndume reacting to the incident called on the military authorities to deploy more troops to safeguard the entire communities around Gwoza council area and Cameroun.

There is only one forward military base (FOB) in Kirawa and it is dominated by the Multi national joint task force MNJTF of mostly Camerounian troops mandated to pin down kirawa on both sides of the divides of the two countries.

A lot of the Intel policing of the community is done by CJTF even as families are still awaiting the rescue of a schoolgirl, Aisha Muhammad that was kidnapped by the insurgents a month ago when this very base was overrun leaving sorrow tears and blood in the community.

Again suspected Boko Haram insurgents return to Kirawa with damnation

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Police investigate killing of pastor in Delta

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Police investigate killing of pastor in Delta

By: Zagazola Makama

The Police Command in Delta has commenced investigation into the gruesome murder of Pastor Oputeh Monday, aged 59, who was killed by unknown assailants in Umuebu community, Ukwuani Local Government Area of the state.

Sources said that the case was reported by the deceased’s son, Oputeh Joshua, aged 26, who told police that his father had left home early for his farm along Amai/Umuebu farm road and instructed them to meet him later with a motorcycle.

“On their way, they heard gunshots and rushed into the bush where they discovered the lifeless body of their father lying on the ground with his head chopped off.

“Detectives from Obiaruku Division visited the scene of the crime and evacuated the corpse to Medisar Mortuary, Obiaruku, for preservation and autopsy,” the sources said.

The sources that preliminary investigation had commenced, while confidence-building patrols were ongoing in the affected area.

Police investigate killing of pastor in Delta

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