Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) has indicted President
Muhammadu Buhari and berated the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, and
the Commissioner of Police, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, on the
violation of the rights of the members of the Bring Back Our Girls Group in Abuja, on Tuesday 23rd
January, 2018. CDHR condemned the conduct of the Police in preventing the BBOG
from exercising their fundamental right to freedom of expression, association
and movement, including their right of solidarity to engage in legitimate rally
to advance their lawful interest. The Human Rights group described the conduct
of the Police as oppressive, primitive and embarrassing.
The BBOG, led by Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, had converged at the Unity
Fountain, Abuja on Tuesday, 23rd January, 2017 for their usual rally
to attract attention to their patriotic call for the recue or release of the
abducted Chibok Girls. Acting on the directive of the IGP, the Commissioner of Police,
FCT, illegally prevented the members of the BBOG from exercising their
legitimate freedoms, arrested their members, and violated their fundamental
rights.
In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Henry
Peter Ekine and made available to the Press, CDHR decried the level to which the
Police have degenerated in professionalism and abdicated their expected role to
protect the rights of citizens. CDHR was utterly disturbed that the Police have
again displayed crass overzealousness in their conduct. The statement by CDHR
described the incident as unfortunate in a democratic regime.
CDHR warned that this conduct by the COP on the directive of the IGP, as
well as several similar conducts of continuous abuse and violation of the
rights of Nigerians by the Police and other state agents, could only incite
citizens’ reaction and invite anarchy in an already volatile Nigerian society.
CDHR implored the Attorney-General of the Federation to advice the President
and the IGP appropriately, at all times, on their conducts that may affect the
rights of citizens. Conducts by state agents that violate the rights of
citizens raise direct questions on the commitment of the Government to core democratic
principles and values.
The foremost human rights group emphasised that the provisions of sections
39, 40 and 41 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as
amendment, provide for the fundamental rights to freedom of expression, assembly and movement,
respectively. The African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights
(Article 11); the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights as well
as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Articles 13, 19 and 20) also
provide for these rights. The state
has the responsibility to protect these rights. It was held in Inspector General of Police v. All Nigeria
Peoples Party (2007) 18 NWLR (Pt 1066) that the Police must not disrupt the
constitutional right of Nigerians to hold a peaceful and legitimate rally; the
Police, in a democratic society such as Nigeria, is rather expected to provide
security during rallies. CDHR observed that the conduct of the Police
operatives amounted to violation of the rights of citizens, particularly the
members of BBOG.
CDHR, under the leadership of Comrade Malachy Ugwummadu, therefore
called on the Inspector-General of Police, Commissioners of Police, all the
operatives of security agencies and the Government of President Muhammadu
Buhari, to abide by our Constitution and the rule of law and respect the rights
of all citizens to exercise their fundamental freedoms. The rule of law must always
prevail against arbitrariness and alternatives which have no credence under our
Constitution. All state agents must submit themselves to the law, and security
agencies must not be seen to violate the rights of citizens.
Uboshe Uboshe/GEE
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