By Raphael Ede Enugu
In effort to address human rights violations committed by offi cers and men of the Nigerian Police Force against the citizens, the Force has organised a three-day human rights training for all instructors in Police College, Oji-River, Enugu state. Declaring the workshop open, Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Department of Training and Development, DIG Emmanuel I. Inyang, who represented the IGP, said the “training is aimed at providing the necessary platform to reach out to men and offi cers of the Nigerian Police Force on the need for the promotion and protection of human rights in the discharge of our duties.”
He described the training, which ended Saturday, as “signifi cant” considering the mandate of the Force in its code of conduct, stressing that “a police offi cer acts as an offi cial representative of the government who is required and trusted to work within the law.” “However, in accordance with the fundamental duties of serving the community, safeguarding lives and property, protecting the innocent, keeping the peace and ensuring that the right of all to liberty, equality and justice is respected, the importance of ensuring that human rights are recognised by police offi cers cannot be overemphasised,” he said. He appreciated the Embassy of Switzerland, GIZ, European Union, and UNODC for their supports in the implementation of the project till date. Earlier, in his address, the Commandant Police College, OjiRiver, Anthony U. Ogboji, said the College had 906 recruits on training recruited from fi ve states of Southeast, “out of which 114 recruits who were specialists have been trained posted to various departments and formations where their skills are needed.” According to him, the College, being one of the fore-most police colleges in Nigeria, has not received adequate attention like others.
