A human rights group known as Civil Rights Council has urged the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, CP Dandaura Mustapha to end the seeming increase in Human Rights abuses by officers under his command.
The group made the demand in a press statement it issued after an emergency meeting on Thursday 31 October 2019.
In a statement signed by Arochukwu Paul Ogbonna Esq , National coordinator ,Prince Wiro Rivers State Chairman and Uzoma Kelechi Secretary of PortHarcourt branch of Civil Rights Council respectively, condemned in it’s entirety the seeming increase of rights abuses by Police officers with the most recent being the alleged use of machete by men of Eagle crack (Commissioner Squad) Police unit in the state to torture three suspects namely Cletus Solomon, Opuwari Bibobra and Michael Ilekima for them to accept that they were kidnappers while they were not.
Civil Rights Council called on CP Dandaura Mustapha to ensure justice is done on the matter following the submission of petition by the victims lawyer.
The group stated that it will leverage on the Anti-torture Act of 2017 signed by President Muhammadu Buhari which provides in section 3 that no exceptional circumstance whatsoever may be invoked as a justification for torture. The act further penalized any form of torture committed by the infliction of pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, on a person to:
obtain information or a confession from him or a third person, punish him for an act he or a third person has committed or is suspected of having committed ,intimidate or corce him or a third person for any reason based on discrimination of any kind.
The group revealed that there is no circumstance that permit the torture of Nigerians. The group further demanded for the discountenance of such barbarism. The group said it will ensure that officers who engage in torture of suspects will be made to face the full wrath of the law.
Meanwhile the Chairman of PortHarcourt Civil Rights Council branch Sebastian Kpalap urged members to always be resolute to defend the right of the oppressed in the society. He said “Civil Rights Council was formed to fight against right abuses in the society “.
Prince Wiro the Rivers State Chairman of Civil Rights Council in his own contribution urged members to ensure those who violate right of citizens are made to face the law.
Earlier, the National coordinator, Arochukwu Paul Ogbonna stressed the need for members to attend the camp programme scheduled to hold November 12 to 16,2019 Owerri, Imo state, Nigeria
In her vote of thanks Miss Kelechi Uzoma,Secretary of Civil Rights Council PortHarcourt branch thanked the members for coming to the meeting .
Miss Mercy Christopher Esq presented a talk on Human Rights in the society
The meeting also featured question and answer session.
