The Nigeria Police Force and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) are working to put an end to the public parading of criminal suspects in the country, aligning with national and international human rights standards.
This development comes as the Federal Government takes steps to clarify the roles of key stakeholders in the implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP) on Human Rights.
Speaking at an Inter-Agency Consultative Workshop on the implementation of the NAP for the promotion and protection of human rights, the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Tony Ojukwu, announced that the Commission would soon launch a campaign against the public parade of suspects. The workshop was organised by the NHRC in collaboration with the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), with support from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
Ojukwu stated: “We are going to commence a campaign against the parade of suspects soon. This framework serves as a strategic roadmap for improving human rights compliance in Nigeria.”
Commitment to Human Rights and Rule of Law
The Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Human Rights, Mutashi Luckman, who represented Abiola Peter Makandi, expressed gratitude to foreign partners for their support in strengthening human rights in Nigeria.
He noted: “We must stand against unfairness and collectively work toward improving justice and respect for all citizens.”
Similarly, the Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Solomon Arase, reaffirmed the commission’s opposition to human rights violations, particularly the public parading of suspects.
Arase stated: “Parading suspects is unlawful. We must take decisive action to stop this practice.”
He also highlighted concerns over corruption within the judiciary, questioning how some officials manage to acquire luxury properties in high-value areas such as Maitama, Abuja.
Legislative and Institutional Support
The Executive Director of the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), Clement Nwankwo, commended the National Assembly’s Committee on Human Rights for advancing human rights protections through legislative reforms. However, he noted that some police officers continue to misuse their authority, using arms seizures as justification for parading suspects.
On the recent state of emergency in Rivers State declared by President Bola Tinubu, Nwankwo cautioned against undermining democratic principles under the guise of security.
He said: “Democracy is rooted in human rights. The power to remove elected leaders arbitrarily is incompatible with democratic norms. When an elected leader is removed without due process, it must be condemned.”
International Partnership and Support
The Deputy British High Commissioner, Gill Lever, praised Nigeria’s efforts to enhance human rights protections, stating that effective implementation of the NAP would strengthen Nigeria’s democratic foundations.
Lever stated: “We are ready to collaborate with Nigeria to implement this plan. Human rights should not be aspirational—leaders must be held accountable. Human rights remain the cornerstone of every progressive society.”
The workshop underscored the government’s renewed commitment to upholding human rights, fostering accountability, and ensuring that security measures do not infringe on the fundamental rights of Nigerian citizens.
