News

Nigerian Police Force Denies Amnesty Report

Published

10 years ago

September 18, 2014

The Nigerian Police force has given a statement denying a report by Amnesty international which revealed that police unleash unheard of torture on civilians in the country.
The report was called ‘Welcome to Hell-Fire’: torture and other ill-treatment in Nigeria.
The police came out and said that even though Amnesty intl. has all right to make its report, the police won’t stant for any falsehood.
The police statement was signed by The Police Public relations officer, Ag. CP Emmanuel Ojukwu.
It read: 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.
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 amnesty report was from a study of over 7 years of the force, from 2007 – 2014 but the police still adamant that they don’t use torture or ill-treatment.
The statement continued: 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.
The Nigerian police has always been under scrutiny due to a perceived lack of effort by the citizens.
Amnesty International is an organiization which has been globally recognized as leader in the fight for human rights.