Kenny Folarin, Abuja
The National Coordinator, Network of Police Reform in Nigeria (NOPRIN), Foundation, Emmanuel Ikule has implored victims of police brutality or abuse in any form to speak out in order to get justice.
Ikule while speaking in Abuja on Monday at the Public Tribunal on Police Abuses in Nigeria, North Central Zone stated that over time, lots of persons have doubted the justice system but NOPRIN with a network of 67 non-governmental organization is trying to make amends to make sure that victims of police brutality get justice hence they must speak out.
“So the essence of this is to lend voice to the voiceless that if they speak out, something can be done about it. But you need to come out for people to stand for you and we are hoping that just like the other zones we were able to get results and we hope to get results here too”.
“This cases can only be possible when you push because a lot of persons do not even believe that justice still exist in the country, so this is to make people know that even the police themselves can be disciplined but you need to report your case before somebody will speak for you”.
He explained that the tribunal aims at encouraging victims of survival of these abuses to come and for NOPRIN to aid them have access to justice, whilst pushing government oversight agencies to fulfill their mandates.
“If the Nigeria Constitution, Section 33-40, talks about the right of citizen, we have anti-torture act of 2017 that criminalizes all form of torture against human being in all forms, we still have violence against person prohibition act that prohibit all forms of violence against persons, then why is there still abuse?”.
Honorable Commissioner, Human Right, Police Service Commission (PSC)Rommy Mom affirm that police brutality is real and a global phenomenon hence an urgent need to start making gradual progress in terms of reducing this, police brutality or unprofessionalism in police conduct.
Meanwhile, Mom stated once there is no modus to address police brutality or once the modus is ineffective, then the country is in problem and but hope that Nigeria with the PSC in place and CSO like NOPRIN have eagle eye in terms of picking on these violations and bringing them forward but most importantly reversing the situation of unprofessionalism in the police conduct.
Continuing, Rommy said” undauntedly the welfare of the police can be better, it is not what it should be it is what we are all hoping to improve upon radically because this are persons that work long hours sacrifice their lives cc couple with meagre salaries unfitting accomodations”.
He added that the government has in the last years tried to improve their salaries but the implementation of those salaries is very critical issuance for police lives and general welfare.
He opined that the police can have a better deal from the country which they serve but the underlining reason for the police to serve their country is patriotism hence negate reasons for extortion and bribery.
“Patriotism should trump all those issues while we see that we appreciate them the way they should be appreciated, but as it is now, it can be better”.
Executive Director, Dorothy Njemanze Foundation Dorothy Njemanze on her part identified lack of access to justice, forced settlement at police outpost and refusal to incident report that are made in line with sexual and gender based violence have been major challenges faced by the foundation.
Njemanze however expressed optimism for working systems that encourages victims to speak out as exemplified by NOPRIN.
Meanwhile, Njemanze noted that States that have not adopted the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) (VAPP) act are colossal failure to women and girls because they are cheating them.
“It is Violence Against Persons (Prohibition), majority of the things they it covers are issues that affect women, so since 2015 till now, that is more than enough time to domesticate the law.
“If you have not done it you have failed the people, and thankfully, the elections are around the corners and I hope the people you failed will use their PVC to kick you out of office”. She added.