Nigeria Police Will Perform Optimally With Genuine Reform – NHRC Says
BY ADEYEMI AKANJI, BAUCHI – The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), has said that one of the surest ways to make the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) perform better and optimally as expected in line with the world’s best policing practice is genuine reformation.
The Bauchi State Coordinator of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Mr. Yahcit Dala, who stated this at a 2-day Youth Summit for North-East sub-region, said that the police ought to be the number one protector of human rights in Nigeria being that they are saddled with the responsibility of protecting citizens and their properties.
Speaking on the theme; “Youth Inclusion in Police Reform” under the project ‘Strengthening Police Reform in Nigeria’ organized by Network on Police Reform in Nigeria (NOPRIN) and supported by MacArthur Foundation, Dala said that life is a fundamental human right, stressing that no one can enjoy other fundamental human rights if there is no life.
Represented by a Senior Program Officer, Ortese Felix Mini, the NHRC Coordinator said the Commission which was established in 1995, is saddled with the responsibility of promoting and protecting human rights of Nigerians.
She said; “We cannot have right to liberty, right to freedom of association if there is no life. Therefore, any program that is geared or tailored towards protecting and promoting human rights or bringing reforms that will help promote human rights in Nigeria is welcome by the Commission.
“The Commission welcomes the idea of looking at championing this reform because when Police are properly taken care of, when there are reforms in the Police Force, it will go a long way in fostering the relationship between the Police and the public.
“This will imply that the rights of the citizens are protected,” Dala said.
She commended NOPRIN for bringing together youths in the North-East sub-region for the summit saying that, even though the older ones are occupying leadership positions presently, the youths remain leaders of tomorrow.
Dala encouraged the participants to be active in the discussions in order to bring out positive reforms for implementation in reforming the Nigerian Police.
