BY ESTHER EGBE
Overtime, the Nigeria police have witnessed a gross lack of trust of its officers and men by the larger population of Nigerians as a result of improper and ill treatment from the men and officers of the force.The Lagos State Police Command in Collaboration with Crime Victims Foundation organized it 13th graduation ceremony of the police human rights desk officers recently at Police Officer’s Mess Sabo Arobiodu ,GRA,Ikeja
Special guests of honor during the graduation were;the chairman:Chief Daniel Chinemelum,Fedam Investment Ltd,HRM.Oba Samuel Alamu Oloyede Onikosi of Ikosi land-Ketu,A.I.G Chris A.Ola(Msc Fwc)A.I.G.Zone 2 Command Lagos,Wale Olokode,Assistant Commissioner of Police,Wale Olokode.DSP.Joseph Jaiyeola,PPRO ,Lagos State Police Command.
The opening speech was taken by the chairman, Chief Daniel Chinemelum during the graduation he said I call this occasion unique not because it is the maiden edition or the last but this is one that I am opportune to be in attendance and being greatly influences as well.
Today we are gathered to witness that graduation of these officers and men of the Nigerian Police in Human Rights awareness course. This is a programme that upon my invitation, I made a point to attend in my full compliment because it is a program that raises hope in the mind of every Nigerian who hopes for a better Nigeria.
This mistrust and most times, manifested aparthy,have led to the disturbing, if not distressing rate of violent crimes and wanton looting of the national treasury by those who should be the custodians.
The sorry State of the Nigerian nation which has been described as failed State in some quarters can easily be traced to the failure of the Nigerian Police to effectively arrest and prosecute violators of the law, especially the highly placed .This failure of the Nigerian police can easily be traced to the deliberate weakening of the police force through poor funding and inadequate training of the police personnel by those in the helm of affairs of successive governments.
At a point, a majority opinion is that the Nigerian, beck and call of the highly placed. As the fundamental rights of the Nigerian people were not only neglected but constantly violated by the very police that is supposed to protect it but today the Nigerian police has taken a bold and positive step of training its officers who will bring this critical program. This is the very reason that I feel so excited to be here today.
I stand here today to encourage these graduates to be exemplary officers who will bring this program to bear on their dealings with fellow colleagues and the Nigerian people in general, so as to impact positively on their profession as the defenders of human rights. I am aware of the challenges that lies ahead for these officers In trying to be human right defenders in Nigeria of today but I am full of hope looking at the eagle and bold expressions on their faces which promise nothing but hope ,hope for the man who runs upon sighting the police man, hope for the man who faints upon seeing armed policemen, hope for every Nigerian who sees the police as institution of oppression and willing instrument of intimidation in the hands of the high and mighty in society.
I encourage everyone in this hall today to join me in this crusade as well. I will not conclude these remarks without showing my profound appreciation to the organizers of this event Crime Victims Foundation for this great initiative which is vital to the great Nigeria and encourage them not to relent in their efforts in bringing this new perspective to the operations of the Nigerian Police and repositioning it for greater efficiency and professionalism.
The Project presentation was done by Mrs Gloria Egbuji,Executive Director of CRIVIFON.She started by saying that it is her pleasure to be here with the human rights graduation.The police occupies an important place in the strategic framework of National Security making their functions dispensable to government stability.Today the Lagos police command is again graduation 217 officers of the ranks of DSS surely mount further in the face of multiple global economic and security crises.The opportunity costs are enormous.Rights and Rule of Law,these officers cut across departments-MOPOL,SCID,MONITORING,TRAFFIC AND GENERAL DUTY POLICE.They were trained on Human Rights Awareness,International Human Rights Standards for Law Enforcement,How to deal with Victis,Suspects And Withness of Human Rights Abuses,Investigatives interviewing, Exhibit Handling, Humanitarian Laws, Interpersonal Skills,Report Writing,to mention but a few.
The training is to quip them to man the Human Rights Desks and dispose their duties professionally without violating the human rights of victims, suspects and withnesses.Since inception in 2006,we have received over 1000 cases and deal with about 500 .The Human Rights Officers have ensured that Victims, Suspects and Withnesses are well treated with dispatch.
The roles of these Human Rights Officers have ensured that Victims, Suspects and Witnesses are well treated with empathy. They ensure cells are kept clean, cases that should go to court are sent to court within the limits, bail is granted for bail able offences free, etc.Generally the violation of Human Rights by the Police is now reduced.
This project is not without challenges ranging from inadequate fund to support the programme to resistance to change from some DPOs and middle police managers who do not want to conform to the observance of human rights in their jurisdiction. There are also the challenges of violations from some officers as the teeth and a tool of human rights seems sharpest after the event when violations have already occurred. The challenges have taken place. As you all know this programme has been received by the highest police Authority and Nigerian Police Force is poised to extend this programme to other police formations in the country, we are also embarking on rights education and enlighten of the public.
We would like to seize this opportunity on the Human Rights Activists to appreciate the societal Challenges of the NFF and give them all the cooperation and encouragement in their efforts succeed in this programme because the ultimate aim is for us is to see that we attain enviable status in human rights practices.
Finally, may I express my gratitude to the IGP,AIG Zone 2 and CP Lagos State for agreeing to subject their men and women to scrutiny to ensure compliance to tents of human rights in discharge of their duties. I am also grateful to the Lagos State Ministry of Justice through the OPD,Committee for Defence of Human Right s(CDHR)for all their support in training the officers. the Nigerian Police is commended and strongly encouraged to nurture and sustain this culture as it is one of the World ‘s acclaimed benefits of democratic rule and will reduce public hostility. I also commend the Board of Crime Victims Foundation for providing all technical support, the Civil Society Organization, the media and corporate bodies for their various contributions to the success of this programme.
CP Sir, we are pleased to present to you this 13th batch of 217 officers who had worked so hard to go through this training. I congratulate the grandaunts and look forward to working with them as face the challenges in the years ahead.
Guest Speaker, High Chief ,J.O.Agboye(Obe,GCKSM) Spoke on the topic on IMPACT OF HUMAN RIGHTS ON JUSTICE,SECURITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA’’.
The heart beat of human rights course is the impartation, reformation and implementation of the fundamental human rights and how police can assist to execute them as embodied in chapter four (4) of the 1999 constitution of the federal Republic of Nigeria, the universal declaration of human rights (united Nations council of Europe, the organization of American union and the African charter on human rights and child rights as enshrined therein.
The students of human rights course 13 and their predecessors can boldly affirm same as the brightness of the light from CRIME VICTIMS FOUNDATION Human rights programmes has shone on the Nigeria Police and actually reformed the participants and finally placed them on a high pedestal as the shining stars among others.
I hereby use this ample time to thank the CRIVIFON Nigeria on her affiliation with the Nigeria Police Force men and women of the force. Long live the Nigeria Police and CRIVIFON, Nigeria.
ASP.Joseph Egwuonwu, the Overall best graduating student made comment during the graduation ceremony that it was God that did for us, it wasn’t easy for him that is why they say hard work pays.
The sustenance of Human Rights course and assimilation of its do’s ad don’t its has become a trend in the Nigeria Police force as a result ,we al are permanently changed, refined and purified and braze up with the modern policing which respects the human rights laws world wide. The right to life ,respect to dignity of the person among others as stipulated in the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria are presently being implemented in all police commands. There is fair hearing and fair trial in the police. No more presently charged to court as when due.
The human rights course should be made compulsory in all police colleges, this is to enable this course have its effect on the trainees from grassroots in the Nigeria Police nationwide.
With great humility, respect and thanks to Almighty God I wish to say I am grateful and use this opportunity to say thank you to the Inspector General of Police, the Commissioner of Police Lagos state command and Crime Victims Foundation, for jointly organizing the human rights course in which I found myself coming out in flying colors as the best student among the graduating course participating after the examination conducted at the end of the course.
Though is a great privilege, but I feel humbled and hereby promise to join the Human Rights crusaders and reformers team under the umbrella of the Nigeria Police Force in conjunction with the CRIVIFON to train interested members in this noble course nation wide. The launching support for human rights training awards and recognitions Mr.Ola Wale Tajudeen Alabi,Chief Executive/Managing Director 23/24 Import and Export Limited. Second best participating officer, ASP.Adeniyi Jacob Adekunle, Third Participating officer, PC.Evelyn Ogudu
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