The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has advised security and law enforcement agencies in the country to desist from subjecting citizens or foreigners to torture, inhuman, degrading treatment or punishment in the course of their investigations.
The executive secretary of the commission, Dr. Tony Ojukwu, gave the advice yesterday in a press statement signed by the commission’s director, corporate affairs and external linkages, Obinna Nwakonye, while reacting to the video of a man who was commanded to strip naked in presence of some security operatives.
He said while law enforcement personnel were mandated to carry out their duties including investigations, they must conform to the extant laws and regulations which of course do not confer on them any form of authority to administer unethical treatment on any suspect.
According to Ojukwu, what played out in the video is a demonstration of the fact that some security personnel are either ignorant of the laws governing their operations or are deliberately indulging in abuse of office. He said none of these can suffice as an excuse or justification for any law enforcement agent to use torture, inhuman and degrading treatment and or punishment as a tool for investigation.
He cited Section 34(1) of the Nigerian Constitution which provides that every Nigerian is entitled to respect for the dignity of his person and accordingly no person shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment. He similarly, he brought to mind Article 10 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) which states that all persons deprived of their liberty shall be treated with humanity and respect for the inherent dignity of human person.