Foundation trains 3,000 Police officers on human rights

Lagos—No fewer than 3,000 police officers have been trained so far in human rights by Crime Victims Foundation, CRIVIFON. Also over 96 human rights desks have been set up in Police divisions across Lagos State.

The Executive Director CRIVIFON, Mrs. Gloria Egbuji, made this known to Vanguard, yesterday, at a press briefing in preparation of the 10th graduation ceremony of human rights officers at the Lagos State Police Command. She said her organisation is partnering with the Command to retrain its officers on observance of human rights and positively change their relationship with members of the public.

According to her, “Police officers are the chief protector of citizens’ fundamental human rights, yet at this age and time they still engage in torture, harassment and abuse of fundamental human rights.”

She stressed that most Police officers were not fully trained. A situation, she said, had led to the neglects of citizens rights as embedded in Chapter four of the 1999 Constitution.

Ill-prepared officers

She said: ”They were just recruited, trained for few months at the Police College, and sent out to start work. Most citizens do not know they have the right to remain silent when arrested until they see an attorney.

“When we started the training, we taught them the rights of a suspect, and also the duties of citizens to the Police. So far we have trained close to 3,000 officers and we have established over 96 human rights desks in some police stations across Lagos. I am convinced that things will change.”

Mrs.Egbuji, also harped on the need for government to improve the standard and training of the police by providing more logistics for them.

She added that, “one major issue is that of officers who lost their lives while discharging their lawful duties. More should be done by way of insuring their lives.”


(2010-11-17/vanguardngr)