Torture: Police Commissioner Describes the use of Force as Criminal ……as ASF Trains Professionals

By Alex Uangbaoje, Kaduna 

Avocats Sans Frontieres (ASF), otherwise known as “Lawyers Without Border” on Tuesday commenced two weeks training for another set of professional actors as part of her efforts to make change agents that can bring prevalence of torture, inhumane and degrading treatment to its bearest minimum in Kaduna State.

The French based organization, had in 2016 trained some professionals from the Judiciary, Ministry of Justice, Police, Prisons, Media, Civil Society Organizations (CSO), etc, which gave birth to Network Against Torture (NAT) kaduna. 

In his remarks at the opening of the the training, Kaduna State Police Commissioner, Agyole Abel described the act of using force during investigation in getting information from suspects as unjust and can not be tolerated in the state. 

He noted that as an officer in the field, he is aware that certain force are being applied in getting suspect to confess to their crime, this he said is criminal and act of human cruelty. 

The commissioner, who was represented by Assistant Commissioner of Police, Abdulazeez Danni, added that, “the use of force is criminal but with law enforcement, some existential conditions must be met to remove criminal liability. 

“Accordingly, the UN basic principles on the use of force and firearms state that it’s use by law enforcement officials must be prescribed by law, necessary, proportionate, none-justifiable. 

“Prompting the United Nations Convention Against Torture (PROCAT) in Nigeria is arduous task embarked upon by the organizers of this workshop ASF france and National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).”

Earlier, in her address, Head of Nigeria Office, ASF, France, Mrs. Angela Uwandu, disclosed that, her organisation has provided free legal services to over 80 victims of torture in Kaduna State since 2014.

She said the essence of the continues training of stakeholders who are expected to be lead advocates against torture in the various states where they work in Nigeria is to look at torture with regards to UN Convention on torture in Nigeria. 

“We brought all these professionals together because when you look at the issue of torture, it requires some level of technicality.

“This issue for instance is not being highlighted and reported enough, that we are engaging the media. We need to bring about a change, because people act as though it is normal.

“This is not about the police or security agents alone, everyone have a role to play and in the cause of this training everyone will know their importance and we see ourselves as partners of progress.” she added.