Two human rights organizations, Prison Inmate Development Initiative (PIDI-Nigeria) and Child is Gold (CIG) foundation have voiced out against the Monday inversion of the premises of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) by men of the Nigeria police force.
The Executive Director of the NGO, Mr. Mbami Iliya Sabka who made the condemnation in a press statement in Bauchi on Wednesday expressed shock that an institution of government that is expected to provide security to law abiding citizens could resort to harassment and arrest of the staff of the Organization.
“Our attention have been drawn to the inversion, arrest and illegal detention of some staff of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) by men of the Nigeria Police”, the Executive Director said.
According to him, reports had it that the invasion Of premises of the headquarters of the NHRC happened at about 12.00 hours of Monday, the 23rd day of March 2020 as the Commission was holding a management meeting at the council chambers.
The Executive Director who described the attack as uncalled for, said the action was an afront to rule of law and must therefore be condemned by all.
“Information available to us indicated that sporadic gunshots were heard outside the premises of the NHRC headquarters in Abuja when its management comprising all the Directors and the Executive Secretary came out of the chambers and saw that the entire compound had been on smoke where they all run back into the council chambers because of the tear gas”. Sabka narrated.
According to him, “when the effect of the tear gas reduced, the management went downstairs to assess the situation”.
Mr. Sabka pointed out that the management of the NHRC having assessed the situation, viewed that the premises of the Commission was deliberately attacked by the police with not only tear gas canisters but with live bullets.
“We equally got information that the side door glass of one of the staff vehicles parked in the compound was shattered by bullets with bullet holes while the driver’s door frame had a live bullet presently lodged inside it”, PIDI-Nigeria explained.
Adding that “the window glass of one of the offices, Department of Education and Promotion as well as the security gate house was also pierced by bullet holes”.
The PIDI Director who said they were made to understand that this is not the first time the commission was attacked directly by officers of the Nigerian police Force, noted that several officers of the Commission investigating complaints of human rights violation have in the past been assaulted and intimidated by officers of the Nigerian police.
“A press statement signed by the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Tony Ojukwu Esq also recalled that on 23rd April 2018, the commission was also attacked by officers of the Nigerian police with tear gas which destroyed cars and smashed windows”. Sabka said.
“The statement by the Executive Secretary of the NHRC said despite the fact that the ugly situation was reported to the then FCT Commissioner of police and the then Inspector General of Police, nothing to the knowledge of the Commission was done by the authorities to address the issues raised but instead, the commission was left to bear the brunt of replacing all damaged properties including staff and visitors vehicles that were affected during that incident”.
The Executive Director avvered that the action of the Nigeria Police in Monday’s episode like others in the past portends serious threat to the defence of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Nigeria.
He called on other NGOs and well-meaning Nigerians to also voice out in codemnation of the act in its totality.
