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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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Crime

Boko Haram slaughter 27 fishermen in Cameroon

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Boko Haram slaughter 27 fishermen in Cameroon

By: Zagazola Makama

No fewer than 27 fishermen were slaughtered and 3 others abducted by the Jamā’at Ahl as-Sunnah
lid-Da’wah wa’l-Jihād, Boko Haram terrorists group in the fringes of Lake Chad in the border between Cameroon- Nigeria.

It was gathered that terrorists suspected to be from the Buduma faction of Abou Ummaymah, attacked a local fishing community harboring most fishermen from Nigeria at Island Kofiya near Darak in the Republic of Cameroon.

Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that they asked them to lie down, tie their hands behind their backs before they started slaughtering them.

The sources said the terrorists also abducted four other fishermen after accusing them of spying for the ISWAP faction

The bodies of the fishermen were later recovered during a search and rescue operation by troops and their colleagues who received the news from victims who fled the attack scene.

Boko Haram slaughter 27 fishermen in Cameroon

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NSCDC Discovers Illegal Petroleum Refinery Site in Imo

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NSCDC Discovers Illegal Petroleum Refinery Site in Imo

By: Michael Mike

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has discovered in Egbema West of Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State illegal petroleum refinery site with massive capacity.

A statement on Friday by the spokesman of the security agency, Afolabi Babawale read: “In a swift response to the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps Commandant General, Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi mni OFR marching order the CG”s SIS having upscaled their intelligence and operational techniques have uncovered a massive illegal refining site with over 95,000 illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) while others yet to be refined but already siphoned are unquantified in litres.”

He said: “Acting on credible intelligence, the CG’s SIS stormed Otulu Community in Egbema West of Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State and discovered an illegal refinery covering a large expanse of land with many cooking pots and illegally connected Pipes tapping from the main Oil Trunk line of NNPC OML 20 assets in Egbema West field; Well 11 location with many fabricated reservoirs, drums and AGO concealed in cellophane bags.

“Upon sighting the resilient and dogged CG’s Special Intelligence Squad the perpetrators took to their heels through the thick forests. “

He revealed that: “The following exhibits were recovered at the crime scene:

“Galvanized iron pipes, several locally fabricated metal reservoirs, Constant Elepaq Gasoline Generating Set, Bridge Inverter Welding machine ARC 200, Electrical filing machine, Several vandalized Well Head Valves, a yellow coloured Robin GC pumping machine and Packs of Electrolyte.

“Investigation is ongoing to unravel the perpetrators behind the heinous crime while the exhibits recovered would be forfeited to the federal government after the Court’s order. “

Babawale said: “The NSCDC hereby affirms it’s determination to relentlessly combat the menace of Vandalism and crude oil theft to a stand still across the nation.

NSCDC Discovers Illegal Petroleum Refinery Site in Imo

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Crime

Borno Police parades suspects for various criminal offences, Urges public to report any suspected movements

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Borno Police parades suspects for various criminal offences, Urges public to report any suspected movements

By: Babagana Wakil

The Commissioner of Police Borno State call on the people of the state to continue to support the police with timely reports of incidences following the parade of suspected aledged for committing various crimes.

Command under the watch of the Commissioner of Police CP Yusufu Mohammed Lawal has recorded breakthroughs with the recent burst of criminals involved in mischief, culpable homicide, illegal mining and kidnaping in the state.

Police Public relations officer ASP NAHUM KENNETH Daso disclosed this in a statement he signed and made available to Dandal Kura Radio International in Maiduguri.

On Criminal Conspiracy and Illegal Mining at about 1330hirs On the 24th March, 2024 at about diesel tanker truck with four suspects was arrested by Nigeria Army patrol team attached to 331 Battalion and were brought to Bayo division, the suspects were caught in possession of 70 bags of suspected monoxide substance despite the ban of illegal mining activities in the state, the suspects confessed to the crime while investigation ongoing.

Kenneth Daso also stated that on the 11th March, 2024 at about 2000HRS, one Umar Mohammed of Jiddari Polo area Maiduguri reported to GRA police station that while inspecting his uncompleted house in Judumari area Maiduguri, found a shallow grave with an unidentified decomposed body, one digger and 2 knives. On receiving the report police detectives of GRA police station visited the scene and exhumed the body which was further taken to state specialist hospital Maiduguri for autopsy. On the 25th of March 2024 at about 1500HRS police investigation further led to the arrest of one Ibrahim Muhammed who confessed to have conspired with his master one Usman still at large and one Mustapha Modu a laborer who dug the shallow grave where the body was buried and he was paid the sum of N1,500 was also arrested. The case is under investigation as effort is on top gear to arrest the fleeing suspect.

The statement also reveals that On the 29th March 2024, at about 1800HRS one Hauwa Audu Adamu reported to police crack squad Maiduguri, that on the same date at about 1330HRS her son Hisham Mohammed 10yrs of age went for Jum’at prayer and never returned home, the next day 30/04/2024 at about 0900HRS an unknown GSM number called her and demanded a ransom of three million naira N3,000,000. For the release of her son in their custody, a sum of N400,000 was later negotiated and given to the suspects. Police crack squad swung into action and arrested two primary suspects who later confessed to the crime, the victim was rescued unhurt investigation is ongoing.

Borno Police command further disclosed that On the 1st April, 2024 at about 0630HRS, Chief Security Officer of University Of Maiduguri reported to Gwange Police Station that on the same date at about 0530HRS they discovered one Dr Kamal Abdulkadir a lecturer of Department of Physical and Health Education University of Maiduguri lying on his pool of blood, on receipt of the report, police detectives of Gwange police station and forensic experts from State Criminal Investigation Department visited the crime scene and found the victim lying dead with multiple stab wounds and injuries on the body. The victim’s mobile phone and vehicle one Honda Pilot with Reg NO. NGU232XG YOBE Golden Colour was carted away by the criminals; the body was taken to University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital Maiduguri for autopsy.
Adding that Eight suspects have been arrested while the case is still under discreet investigation.

On the mater of incessant fire outbreak across the stste on the 24th March 2024 at about 1030HRS Hunter group of Mafa reported to Mafa division with 3 suspects Malum Usman 16yrs, Bulama Bukar 14yrs, Rawa Usman 11yrs all of Mafa IDP camp that suspects were arrested with matches while trying to set a house ablaze in the camp, preliminary investigation further revealed that the trio were sponsored by one Babagana Umar a firewood seller at Muna garage area Maiduguri who contracted them to commit the act at the rate of N10,000 the case is under investigation.

The Commissioner of Police calls on the good people of the state to continue to support the police with timely reports of incidences and further assures diligent investigation and prosecution will be served in all cases

Borno Police parades suspects for various criminal offences, Urges public to report any suspected movements

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