Don Blames Police For Human Rights Violations

A Professor at the University of Jos, Prof. Nnamdi Aduba has blamed the police for Nigerians’ inability to enjoy their fundamental human rights.

Aduba made the remark in Owerri on Wednesday at a town hall meeting organised by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) with the theme: Know Your Fundamental Human Rights.

He accused the police of being ignorant of human rights, saying they needed to be educated so that they would know the fundamental rights of the people and respect them.

“That you are a policeman does not give you the right to beat and shoot people anyhow. A citizen can only cooperate with the police if they respect their rights,’’ he said.

The professor of law noted that the greatest right of an individual was the right to education, saying that education was the best empowerment one could receive from another.

He called on the people to be educated so that they would acquire the knowledge and know when to exercise their fundamental human rights.

“Nigerians are more interested in food and money instead of getting the knowledge they need in life. “Because we are not educated, we cannot call our governors to sit up; we do not even know our rights in the first place,” he stressed.

Aduba drew a difference between fundamental human rights and human rights, saying one could go to court when fundamental rights were breached.

“One cannot report in court in the case of ordinary human rights. Also, fundamental human rights are constitutionalised,” he said.

Also speaking, the NHRC Executive Secretary, Prof. Bem Angwe, said the aim of the meeting was to sensitse the people on the need to know their rights.

He said it was to make them recognise their fundamental human rights and make sure they enjoyed them and were protected.

Angwe said the commission had been mandated by the Federal Government to protect the rights of the people.

“We are independent and not answerable to any authority in the country. If your right is retrieved, you don’t even need any lawyer to report to us, so feel free,” he said.

Angwe urged Nigerians to also respect the rights of one another so that there would be peace and tranquility in the country.

“When you respect the rights of a person and another respects yours, there will be peace and what we are looking for in our nation is peace,’’ he pointed out.