International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, Amnesty
International has urged the Federal Government to do more to end the
ongoing use of torture and other forms of ill-treatment by law
enforcement agencies.
It said despite recent government measures aimed at reducing the use
of torture in the country, “it continues to receive regular reports of
torture and other ill-treatment in military and police custody. ”
“Moreover, victims are still being denied justice, with the Nigerian
judicial system failing to prevent or punish torture, perpetuating a
culture of impunity,” the global agency said via a press release on
Wednesday.
“Although steps have been taken to address torture in Nigeria,
including the enactment of the Anti-Torture Act in December 2017 and
the setting up of the presidential panel on reform of the Special
Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) the use of torture by the police and others
is still widespread,” said Osai Ojigho, Director Amnesty International
Nigeria.
The statement also reads: “Our research also shows that despite an
existing law against the use of torture, no police officer has been
charged under the act.
Moreover, the Nigerian police is yet to amend Force Order 237 which
allows police officers to shoot at fleeing suspects, giving room for
lethal use of force that sometimes leads to extrajudicial killings.
“On 5 March 2018 a high court in Ogidi, Idemili North Local Government
Area of Anambra State ordered the Nigeria Police Force to pay
compensation to Ugochukwu Oraefo for extortion, illegal arrest,
unlawful detention and torture after he was arrested by officers of
the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) Awkuzu, Anambra state. The
police have neither paid the victim nor ensured that the police
officers involved have been brought to justice.
“Amnesty International highlighted rampant torture and ill-treatment
especially by the SARS police unit in the report: Nigeria: ‘You Have
Signed Your Death Warrant’ in 2016, yet shocking incidents of torture
still continue. Every now and then videos of police officers or
soldiers torturing suspects surface and generate outrage.
“It is time Nigerian authorities declare, in strong terms, that
security personnel will be held accountable for torture and that
victims of torture will get justice, including rehabilitation and
compensation.”
Torture is prohibited under international law.
