By; AMOS MATHEW, Kaduna
An international human rights organisation, Avocats Sans Frontières France (ASF France)
otherwise known as Lawyers Without Borders, said about 75 security agencies have been trained from the first to the third phase on human rights violations in Kaduna.
The group said the training was held as part of its commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights in Nigeria, as well as the continuous exercise of boosting the capacity of lawyers and other security agencies to increase the level of commitment of stakeholders in taking action against human rights violations in Kaduna State.
The training, which is the 3rd held in Kaduna, with it’s themed: “Strengthening the National Actors Capacities and Advocation for Ending Severe Human Rights Violations in Nigeria”.
Speaking at the 3-day training, the Head of Office of ASF in Nigeria, Mrs Angela Uzoma- Iwuchukwu, said the training was aimed at addressing torture, extra-judicial killing and arbitrary detention perpetrated in their facilities.
Uzoma-Iwuchukwu said the training is the third phase held for security agencies in Kaduna State and about 75 security agencies have been trained from the first to the third phase.
According to her, the training will bridge the knowledge gap in regards to human right among security agencies to improve their capacity and knowledge to respect human rights.
Uzoma- Iwuchuckwu said the training is targeted to train personnel of the various security agencies, including the Police, the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corp, the Department of State Services, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.
Others were officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nigerian Immigration Service, Corrections Service and Kaduna State Vigilante Service.
“The mission of the SAFE project will provide updates on the status of its implementation, and ensure the need for continued partnership of the stakeholders to fully achieve goals of the project.
“We believe that these trainings will culminate in enhanced accountability for perpetrators of human rights violations, while promoting justice for victims.
“I believe with these training being done, when they go back, they will train their colleagues more,” she stated.
Also speaking at the training, Mrs Binta Audu, a representative with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), said the training is aimed at strengthen the knowledge of the security agencies on human rights violation.
Audu said the training would help reduce torture, extra-judicial killings among others by security agencies.
She stated that the training would enable security agencies to keep to the rules of arrest, detention and interviews (interrogation) as it called by international practices now.
Audu commended ASF France for taking steps in training security agencies to end cases of intimidation, brutality, and killings being witnessed by many Nigerians.
