Psc to work with Amnesty International to check human rights abuse

THE Police Service Commission has said it would work with the Nigerian Office of Amnesty International to drastically reduce cases of human right abuses in Nigeria.

The Chairman of the Commission, AlhajiMusiliu Smith made the comment when a delegation from the Nigerian Office of the Agency visited him in his office. He told the delegation that the Commission had already started work on this but requested that the Agency should carry the Commission along in its findings before such reports are released.

He said the Commission has since set a new agenda for the Nigeria Police which will ensure that operations of the Police will henceforth respect human rights and in accordance with laid down rules.

The Chairman noted that the Commission has received a lot of complaints of Police misconduct, but promised that the Commission will ensure that such complaints will be treated speedily with all fairness they deserve.

Alhaji Smith drew the attention of the Agency to the state of Nigerian prisons, with a view to assisting the authority in ensuring proper reformation of inmates so that the incidence of re-cycling of released prisoners back into crime can be minimised.

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The leader of Delegation and Director Amnesty International, Nigerian Office, OsaiOjigho told the PSC Chairman that they were in his office to engage the Commission in respect of the reform in the Nigeria Police Force, especially Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS), and other legislative reforms. “According to her, they came to share their findings regarding certain abuses and violations of human rights by the Officers of the Nigeria Police Force.”

She expressed the happiness of the Agency that SARS was currently undergoing reform. Adding; “we are currently documenting cases involving SARS Operatives since 2016.”

Ojigho suggested the need for a comprehensive law against excessive use of force and the amendment of the Force Order to reflect international standard.