Police Abuses Have Caused Citizens To Withdraw Their Trusts And Support For The Police Authority - Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin

The training of all Officers of the Nigeria Police Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) on Human Rights Protection, Citizens’ Relation and Grassroots Collaboration commenced throughout the country on Wednesday, 19th October, 2016.

The training, which is holding simultaneously at all the Twelve Police Zonal Command of the Federation, was declared opened at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.

The training is a joint program by the Nigerians Unite Against Terror (NUAT) and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to inculcate Human Rights Protection in the operations of all officers of the SARS nationwide in accordance to International Practice.  

The Convener of the Nigerians Unite Against Terror, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin in her welcome address said the training is an imperative in order to improve the operations of SARS officers due to disturbing reports of gross Human Rights violations by the SARS officers.

She further said Police abuses have caused citizens to withdraw their trusts and support for the Police authority, and thereby resorting to self-security and mob actions among other personal improvisations. She emphasized that the situation has also caused the public to perceive the Police as enemies rather than as friends of the citizens, a situation she also said has created a wide gap between the public and the police.

She described the three day training as the remedy to inculcating respect for Human Rights in the SARS officers during course of their operations, and by extension restores confidence of the citizens in the Police authority. She further said the Police-Citizens relation is an important factor for effective National Security.

Addressing the gathering of participants and resource persons, the Police Inspector General, IGP Ibrahim Idris who was represented by the Deputy Inspector General of SARS, DIG Habila Joshak said the Force had been inundated with negative public comments about activities of several errant Police officers. The IGP also stated that it is significant that the major critics of the Police Force on officers’ misconducts, that is the Civil Society is collaborating with the Force on the training and reorientation mission.

Present at the opening ceremony of the training DIG S.L. Gambo; DIG Habila Joshak; DIG Maigari Dikko; DIG Hycent Dagala; DIG Emmanuel Inyang; DIG Valentine Ntomchukwu and DIG Folusho Adebanjo. Also representatives of Nigeria Bar Association; National Human Rights Commission and Civil Society Organisations graced the occasion.  

The training which was declared open by the Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau, who was represented by the Director of Police Services, Dr. Bala Mohamed will have paper deliver on Imperative of Police, Civil Society Cooperation in National Security; Arrest and Detention; International Human Rights Standard and Policing; Statutory International Human Rights, Human Rights Instrument; Maintenance of Public Order; Vulnerable groups: Children, Women and Victims of Crime; Human Rights Violation: Strategies for Cordial Police-Citizens Relations and Scene of Crime Management and Community Policing.