The Federal Government has been called upon to improve the welfare of the police and properly equip them for effective policing.
Participants at the public sitting of the Presidential Hearing on the Reform of SARS were of the view that the police take to “unprofessional” actions because they are not properly taken care of by the government.
Speaking at the event which held in Lagos on Tuesday, the Executive Chairman, Nigeria Human Rights Commission, NHRC, organisers of the event and the Panel Chairman, Tony Ojukwu, noted that the police sometimes resorted to unprofessional actions when they are not provided with working tools.
He stressed therefore, the need for proper funding of the police for it to function effectively even as he charged the police to manage their funds well.
According to him, the panel was set up to address recurring allegations of unprofessional conduct of SARS ranging from unlawful detention, torture, extra judicial killing and other cases bordering on human rights abuse.
“The panel is to hear cases bordering on human rights abuse, review and render advice with the view of reforming the conduct of SARS and making other appropriate recommendations.
“I commend the I-G on this reform and I want to appeal that the complainants be protected as I have received reports that some complainants are being harassed.
“I also want to appeal that recommendations of this panel be enforced so that we can have a better reformed SARS,” he said.
Chukwu lent his voice to the call for the creation of state police positing that the society was presently underpoliced.
Speaking also at the public hearing, human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, expressed the view that the country could be effectively protected if the police was provided with the right equipment and training.
He said: “There is need to equip and train the police. We have the best police as they usually come out on top whenever they go on international engagements.
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“There is urgent need to equip, train and improve their conditions of service and the sky will be their limit. For example, when police make arrests, the suspect’s next of kin should be immediately contacted by the police through a phone call.
“Also there should be video recorders to take suspects’ statements in the presence of their lawyer but you need to tell the government that adequate funding is needed for all these. Even the training of our policeman is colonial.”
Falana , who condemned the parade of suspects by the police advised that courses on human rights be included in the police college curriculum and enjoined everyone to use the social media in reporting cases of violation of human rights.
He also suggested that when damages are awarded against the police in court, the personnel responsible for the misdemeanour should be made to bear part of the cost from his salary and if retired, the damages should be deducted from his pension.
Lagos State Attorney General, Adeniji Kazeem, represented by Titi Shitta-Bey, a director from the Directorate of Public Prosecution, DPP, also harped on the need to provide the police with necessary working tools.
“The police needs to be provided with investigative tools so that they can see the need to do away with crude tools. In Lagos, we have the DNA centres which help the police in investigation. This should be emulated all over the country.
“There is need to look at training, remuneration and the police working environment so that they can perform their duties according to the law,” she said.
The Chief Judge of Lagos State, Opeyemi Oke, who was represented by Justice Kazeem Alogba, noted that there were good policemen but the bad ones end up tarnishing their image.
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi, represented by DCP Ayuba Elkana, disclosed that SARS Commanders had continued to undergo training on human rights since the End SARS campaign started.
Present at the public sitting were representatives of security agencies, lawyers, judges and civil society organizations.
