The National Human Rights Commission in Nigeria has flagged off audit of Police detention centres across the country with a view to ensure that, practices in detention facilities conform to human rights standards.
The exercise was flagged off at the Nigerian Police Life Camp area command Abuja, by the Director Civil and Political right of the Human Rights Commission Abdulrahman Yakubu on behalf of the Executive Secretary Mr. Tony Ojukwu.
Mr. Ojukwu said, the exercise has the objective of collecting and documenting information about Police stations and to know conditions of detention facilities nationwide.
“It is also to see treatment of detainees, gender integration, community relations as well as welfare of the detaining authorities.”
The human rights commission boss explained that, findings of the exercise will be used to enhance Police accountability, identify good practices and challenges for improved human rights standards.
“Monitors have been trained and sent to one state per geo-political zone, to carry out the audit in some police stations in those states with every sense of responsibility and diligence, having in mind that the National Human Rights Commission’s mandate is to protect and promote the rights of everyone in Nigeria including persons in detention and even the detaining officers.”
The FCT Commissioner of Police Mr. Sunday Babaji represented by
Area commander, Life Camp Command Mr. Nemdel Gomwalk assured the corporation and support of the Police for the success of the exercise.
He urged the Human Rights Commission in Nigeria to establish a desk unit where violations of Police rights can be addressed.
The Police detention audit is part of projects on strengthening Police reform in Nigeria funded by MacAthur Foundation and implemented by the Human Rights Commission in Nigeria in collaborations with the office of the Vice President, CLEEN Foundation, Network for Police Reform (NOPRIN), and the Rule of Law and accountability Advocacy Center (RULAAC).