By Daniel Aidamenbor, Akure.
In order to ensure that human rights ethics are consciously developed, maintained and internalized by it’s officers and men through constant training and retraining, the Ondo State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in collaboration with Nigeria Bar Association organized a one day seminar with the theme: Law Enforcement and Respect for Fundamental Human Rights.
While declaring the seminar open, the Speaker of Ondo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Oloyelogun Bamidele David represented by the Deputy Majority Leader, Hon Oladiji Olamide Landmark commended the command for putting up such training at this time when the public has almost lost confidence in security agencies.
In his goodwill message, the Commissioner of Justice and the Attorney General of the State, Sir Charles Titiloye, spoke through the director, Citizens’ Rights Mediation Centre, Tunde-Alarape Elizabeth (ESQ). The Attorney General emphasized on the intersection between Law Enforcement and human rights
” International and national human rights laws are the legal framework regulating the use of force in law enforcement, and is designed to prevent arbitrary,excessive or discriminatory use of force, and to ensure accountability in cases of abuse. It is therefore imperative that state actors comply with their international human rights obligations relating to law enforcement and the use of force” he said.
In his charge to the participants, the Cqaommandant, Engr Olatundun Olayinka encouraged them to patiently tap from the wealth of experience of the carefully selected resource persons and ask questions as it relates to their day to day operations on the field especially in the areas of arrest, detention and care of suspect in custody.
The training session with the following topics: Rights of a suspect to bail, Justification for arrest and Investigation, Administration of Criminal Justice Act in relation to arrest, investigation etc, and Care and Custody of suspect; were taught by resource persons drawn from the Nigeria Bar Association Human Committee, Ondo State chapter.
At the training were all anti-graft units, Gender Unit, Anti Human Trafficking and Irregular Migration unit, Peace and Conflict Resolution Unit, Armed Squad Unit, Operations Department, and Station office. Others included all Divisional officers, IOs from each Division, Area Commanders amongst many others.
Aidamenbor is the Public Relations Officer, NSCDC Ondo State Command.
Study @ Achievers University
