The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has said that the human rights situation in Nigeria has deteriorated, requiring the immediate DECLARATION OF A NATIONAL STATE OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND NATIONAL SECURITY EMERGENCY by President Muhammadu Buhari, adding: “It would seem that we have reached the precipice and if emergency measures are not adopted, then national doom is inevitable.”

In a media briefing titled, "Poor state of human rights and the collapse of law enforcement, “the rights group said, “To show you how bad the situation is, Nigeria police force has lost its constitutionally required potency to prevent violent crimes just as most police officers are basically concerned with other duties but policing Nigeria and Nigerians.

“The level of professionalism in the NIGERIAN POLICE FORCE HAS DRAMATICALLY NOSEDIVED AND INDISCIPLINE HAS BECOME A COMMON CURRENCY OF CIRCULATION AMONGST THE RANKS, FILE AND OFFICERS CADRES OF THE NIGERIAN POLICE FORCE. GENTLEMEN,” it said, maintaining that, “THERE IS INDEED FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN AND INSTEAD OF RUNNING AWAY WE MUST ALL PUT OUT THIS FIRE.”

The group noted, “Two STATES OF THE FEDERATION NAMELY, ENUGU AND KOGI ARE THE MOST AFFECTED ON THE ISSUE OF BREAKDOWN OF PROFESSIONALISM AMONGST THE POLICE FORCE AND UNFORTUNATELY THE POLICE SERVICE COMMISSION IS MORIBUND ABD NOT RESPONSIVE TO THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES OF ENFORCING DISCIPLINE. PSC is more concerned ABOUT PROMOTIONS AND THERE ARE WIDESPREAD ALLEGATIONS OF BRIBES FOR PROMOTIONS WHICH MUST BE INVESTIGATED BY AN INDEPENDENT JUDICIAL COMMISSION OF INQUIRY IF WE ARE DESIROUS OF FINDING LASTING SOLUTIONS TO THE SECURITY AND POLICING NIGHTMARES AFFECTING NIGERIA.

“In Enugu State, we got a report of a certain assistant commissioner of Police who is allegedly neck-deep into confrontations with landowners in a lot of communities in ENUGU including Obeagu, Awkunanaw amongst others. As we said previously, a petition against this gentleman was sent to us and we forwarded to PSC but PSC is almost moribund.

“This Assistant Commissioner Of police has allegedly served in Enugu state for over two decades and is said to have worked with more than two governors as their chief security detail. We forwarded petitions sent to us by some persons in Enugu to the Police service commission (PSC). However, another group has approached us with a counter-petition although verbally exonerating the ACP but we have asked that group to put their defence into writing so we similarly forward to PSC hoping that justice; equity and fairness would be done to the communities and the police Assistant commissioner being accused of depriving people of the land rights.

“However, I have personally come under considerable pressure by persons who have asked that we drop the case against the assistant commissioner of police in Enugu state that is said to have overstayed his deployment in Enugu but stays on because he is connected even though a group praised him for arresting many kidnappers,” Comrade Onwubiko said.

According to HURIWA, in the statement signed by Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, National Coordinator “We understand that this show of desperation by these persons mounting pressure on us may lead to threat to our lives. But may we inform them that we have no personal issues with the Said ACP as clear conscience fears no accusations.

“Gentlemen, looking at the picture of policing in every part of Nigeria, we can sadly say that policing have failed spectacularly in Nigeria and with the collapse come the wanton violations of human rights including RIGHT TO LIFE. Now in Nigeria, LIFE IS CHEAP. AN ASSISTANT DIRECTOR IN THE SEAT OF POWER HAS JUST BEEN KILLED CLINICALLY BY ASSASSINS IN A WAY THAT SHOWS THAT THERE IS MORE TO IT.

“CHRISTIAN CLERICS ARE TARGETS OF KIDNAPPERS WHO ARE MOSTLY THOUGHT TO BE ARMED FULANI HERDSMEN AND FOREIGN HERDERS WHO ENTER THROUGH OUR BORDERS AND WON’T BE STOPPED BECAUSE THE INTERNAL SECURITY ARCHITECTURE IS DOMINATED BY PERSONS OF SAME ETHNICITY AND RELIGION TO THESE INVADERS. PLATEAU STATE AND SOUTHERN KADUNA KNOWN FOR BEING STRONGHOLDS OF CHRISTIANITY IN NORTHERN NIGERIA ARE WORST AFFECTED LEADING US TO ASK IF THERE IS A SYSTEMATIC GENOCIDE GOING ON.

“The SOUTHEAST OF NIGERIA IS ALSO ON THE SECURITY SPOTLIGHTS. We recently undertook two weeks tour of the South-East of Nigeria and what we discovered saddened our hearts. Statistically, what we saw indicates that over 97% of the communities in the south-east of Nigeria are without any form of policing institutions. WE CHALLENGE THE STATE COMMISSIONERS OF POLICE TO PUBLISH THE DIVISIONAL POLICE OFFICES IN THE SOUTHEAST STATES AND TELL NIGERIANS HOW MANY POLICE OPERATIVES WORK THERE.

“,We found our to our chagrin that the people of these SOUTH EASTERN communities are left on their own just as police operatives often are attached to state capitals and roadblocks extorting passengers and drivers. Millions of IGBO PEOPLE HAVE NO FORM OF PROTECTION AND THE POLITICIANS WHO ENJOY ALL THE SECURITY COVERS HAVE FAILED TO TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE. THIS IS LIKE SETTING OUT A PEOPLE FOR GENOCIDE. SOUTH EAST LEADERS PARTICULARLY TRADITIONAL; YOUTHS AND RELIGIOUS LEADERS MUST TAKE ACTION TO PREVENT ATTACKS AGAINST THEIR PEOPLE BECAUSE THE RIGHT TO LIFE IS SACROSANCT,” the rights group declared.

It also affirmed,” In the last couple of months, over 100 passengers travelling from south-east to the north have been attacked by suspected terrorists, armed Fulani herdsmen and kidnappers and police in those states in the east and middle belt states of Kogi, Benue, Kaduna are not efficient and effective enough to check the trend of kidnapping, just as a lot of these kidnappings hoodlums are armed and are out and about with their smooth operations in active conspiratorial partnership and collusion with many rogue elements in the security forces.

“Because of the fact that policing in most parts of Nigeria has collapsed, Human rights situation has deteriorated abysmally requiring as we said earlier a declaration of a state of Emergency. We condemn the south-east Governors for failures due to political cowardice to follow the great footsteps of south-west Governors to set up south-east security initiative. SOUTHEAST OF NIGERIA NEEDS REGIONAL SECURITY INITIATIVE NOW,” HURIWA noted.

“HURIWA believes that this time is due for every region; states and local councils to set up armed and well-paid security platforms because Nigeria is under a big National security emergency. As they say, NO ARMY IN THE WHOLE WORLD CAN DEFEAT AN IDEA WHOSE TIME HAS COME. THIS IS THE TIME TO PUT UP STRONG RESISTANCE AGAINST MASS MURDERERS WHO AS WE KNOW ARE OPERATING FREELY AND THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT DOES NOTHING BUT ISSUE FRIVOLOUS MEDIA RELEASES THAT ARE PROVOCATIVE AND SIMPLISTIC. The Nigerian Police Force is grounded in the constitution but it has been sabotaged leading to abysmal collapse.

“If we read S.215 of the 1999 constitution, we will know that it provides for an inspector general of The police who shall be appointed by the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the advice of The Nigeria police council from among serving members of the Nigeria force. S.215 (1)(b)7 also provides for Commissioners of police for each state of the federation who shall be appointed by the police service commission. POLICE SERVICE COMMISSION IS CURRENTLY EMBROILED IN A FIGHT WITH IGP FOR SUPERIORITY ON WHO SHOULD RECRUIT POLICE AND NOT ON WHO SHOULD INSTIL PROFESSIONALISM AND DISCIPLINE. THIS ROFORO FIGHT IS REPLICATED AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS BETWEEN NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER GENERAL MONGUNO AND THE ALL-POWERFUL CHIEF OF STAFF TO THE PRESIDENT. THESE INFIGHTINGS ARE DERAILING THE COUNTERTERROR WAR AND POSE GRAVE DANGER TO NATIONAL SECURITY. WE WILL GIVE YOU DETAILS LATER BASED ON AVAILABLE INFORMATION.

“The extant statutes say the Command of Nigeria Police force shall be under the command of the inspector general of Police and contingents of the police force stationed in the States, shall subject to the authority of the Inspector General of the Police be under the command of the police of that state and as we read from diverse kinds of literature on policing in Nigeria we will find out that there is CENTRALITY IN THE COMMAND STRUCTURE OF THE NPF AND AS I SPEAK THE COMMAND STRUCTURE IS DOMINATED BY THE NORTH. THIS IS UNJUST AND UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

“The Nigerian constitution says the president or such other minister of the Government of the federation may give the IGP such ‘lawful directions with respect to the maintenance and securing of public safety and public order as he may consider necessary and the IGP shall comply with those directions or cause them to be complied with.

“The Nigeria police council may, with the approval of the president, delegate its powers to the IGP or the Nigeria police force. The truth is that Nigeria police force is no longer a potent force for good. Police have constituted a grave threat to NATIONAL SECURITY INTERESTS OF NIGERIA. There has to be a deliberate policy to address these problems of failures of national security,” the statement said, adding, “HURIWA is by this briefing, urging the president and the National Assembly to wake up.”

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