Says torture is prohibited>>The Nigeria Police Force has
faulted the report of
Amnesty International,
saying that torture is
prohibited. In a statement
by Force Public Relations
Officer, Ag.CP Emmanuel
Ojukwu, it stated that there
is a zero tolerance for
corruption and abuse of
power, stressing there is no
Immunity for impunity in
Nigeria Police Force.
READ THE FULL STATEMENT
BELOW:
The attention of the Nigeria
Police has been drawn to
an on-line publication
entitled 'Welcome to Hell-
Fire': torture and other ill-
treatment in Nigeria.
While we do not question
the freedom of Amnesty
International to earn its
relevance and bread, the
Nigeria Police takes serious
exceptions to some blatant
falsehoods and innuendoes
contained in that report.
For one, it smacks of
indecency and intemperate
language to liken our dear
nation Nigeria, to hell fire.
That cannot be true. We
believe that Nigeria is a
growing nation, green and
largely peaceful.
While the Nigeria Police and
other operators in the
criminal justice sector are
undergoing systematic
reforms, and aligning
themselves with the
demands of democracy,
there is no gain saying the
fact that the Nigeria Police
Force has since improved its
operational efficiency and
effectiveness. Since the
dawn of democracy in 1999,
the Nigeria Police Force has
significantly improved on its
human rights records, owing
largely to training and re-
training, community policing,
attitudinal change and
structural transformation.
In its report under
reference, Amnesty
International did admit in its
methodology that it visited
some Police Formations and
interviewed some family
members of suspects. At no
time in its report, did
Amnesty speak or interface
with the Police authorities.
This obviously shows their
disdain and apparent lack of
character where the
democratic tenets of fair
hearing are concerned.
The report covered a seven
year period of 2007-2014. I
dare say that some of the
issues raised have since
been dispensed with and
settled.
Of a truth, torture or ill-
treatment is not, repeat,
NOT an official policy of the
Nigeria Police.
The Code of Conduct of
Officers, as well as our
Regulations prohibit torture
and incivility to members of
the public. We are versed
with international best
practices, and the dictates
of the Nigerian Constitution
as regards human rights. So
the Police do not routinely
torture suspects. It is not
systemic or endemic.
Whenever instances of
human rights abuses are
brought to the notice of
superintending officers, the
offending personnel are
promptly sanctioned in line
with the laws and
regulations. For the
avoidance of doubt, Nigeria
Police Force has a zero
tolerance for corruption and
abuse of power. There is no
Immunity for impunity in
Nigeria Police Force.
Besides, the Nigeria Police is
women-friendly. We do not
target sex workers, nor
routinely adopt rape as a
weapon. Instead, the Police
has established a family
and human trafficking unit
to protect the rights of
women, children and the
vulnerable members of our
society.
However, the Nigeria Police
Force shall meticulously
scan through the document,
and investigate any current
human rights abuses linked
to any officer or formation.
Any identified and
established case of
malfeasance or misconduct
shall be treated in line with
the laws and regulations.
We crave the indulgence of
Amnesty International to,
for the first time, furnish the
Police with specific details
of its allegations to enable
us reach the ends of justice
for the alleged victims, and
to improve our service
delivery.
The Nigeria Police Force
remains responsive to the
yearnings of Nigerians for
improved safety and
security.
The Police is your helper
and friend.
Ag.CP EMMANUEL OJUKWU,
psc
FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS
OFFICER,
FORCE HEADQUARTERS,
ABUJA...

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