Amnesty International (AI) Nigeria, has said that the Nigerian government was not sincere in its fight against torture, cruel inhuman, impunity and degrading treatment by security agencies in the country.
It stressed that this was in spite of the passage of the Anti-torture Act Four years after the passage and presidential assent of the 2017 Anti-Torture Act.
AI noted that the security agencies involved in the unacceptable practice include the police, military, and Department of State Services (DSS).
The international human rights organisation particularly said that it is not enough to pass a law criminalizing torture without the authorities doing the right thing by ensuring that torture never goes unpunished.
Amnesty International, in a statement by Osai Ojigho, Director, Amnesty International Nigeria while commemorating this year’s International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, therefore called on the Nigerian government to ensure that the provisions of the Anti-Torture Act are enforced as well as make all complaints of torture independently, promptly, impartially and thoroughly investigated.
AI also called on the government to ensure that all those reasonably suspected of criminal responsibility should be brought to justice in line with the provisions of the Act.
Amnesty International said that it is worrisome that the Anti-Torture Act is yet to find its footing in Nigeria as the pervasive use of torture showed, stressing that enacting a law that criminalizes torture while turning a blind eye on acts of torture, empowers the perpetrators and silences the victims.
Ojigho further said; “It appears the Anti-Torture Act exists only on paper. The #EndSARS protest was a wake-up call for Nigerian authorities to decisively end torture and ensure that victims get justice”.
She said that a 55-year-old father of three who spent three months in police lock-up, informed Amnesty International how he was tortured while being interrogated by the police.
Ojigho quoted the victim as having said; “They started beating me, asking me, how they can get hold of my brother, while I was arguing with them, they now shot me on the leg but while I was talking to them, I was also looking at the officer with the gun and what he was trying to do so when he shot, I dodged the bullet and it only grazed my leg”.
Amnesty International also said that it noted that the judicial panels set up, following the #EndSARS protests, to investigate abuses by the Special Anti-Robbery Squads (SARS) and other police units in twenty states and the FCT, where several torture survivors shared their harrowing experiences at the hands of the Nigerian police.
It further said that many victims and survivors including those who testified at the #EndSars judicial panels have yet to receive the justice they deserved, despite the conclusion of the work of the panels and government’s promise to implement the recommendations.
In the words of Ojigho; “State endorsed security outfits such as the Western Nigeria Security Network (WNSN) ‘Amotekun’, ‘Ebubeagu’ Security Network and some vigilance groups also commit torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment on suspects.
“On 18 January 2022, officers of the Ebubeagu Security Network attached to Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State severally tortured Nnago Akpoke Anyim to death. Mr Nnago hands were tied behind his back, and repeatedly beaten with an axe on his knee, feet and ankle while being interrogated by members of the security outfit,” it said.
Amnesty International therefore called on the Nigerian governments to implement protective mechanisms to prevent and punish torture such as proper medical examinations, prompt access to lawyers, independent checks on places of detention, independent and effective investigations of torture allegations, the prosecution of suspects and redress for victims.
