Date: 2016-11-15

Kwara Police Boss Warns Against Human Rights AbuseThe Kwara state Commissioner of Police, Olushola Amore, has warned Police operatives against tampering with fundamental human rights of suspects in their custody especially the denial of food and medical treatment.

The Police boss gave the warning in his address to the officers as part of his familiarization tour of the Police Command in Ilorin, the state capital.

While explaining the importance of human rights, he warned the officers against maltreatment of suspects in their custody wondering how suspects could be denied medical treatment and food.

"I hope you know that we have human rights desk at the state C.I.D. and you know that every human being has rights even the person that was alleged to have committed an offence.

"The suspect in your cell has right and if a suspect is sick in your cell, doesn't he have right to medical treatment? Doesn't he have right to feed? Please don't deny them the rights and stop the abusive words," he said.

Arresting traffic offenders, he added, should not be the priority but directing motorists to obey the rules and guiding them aright.

"Help the community. If a person is driving wrong and he claimed not to know, you should direct him instead of arresting. Don't smash his windscreen," he said.

He praised them for maintaining peace in the state but urged them to still ensure that criminals do not operate in the state.

He, however, pleaded with them to desist from arresting innocent persons for the absentee suspects.

He asked if the policemen would be happy to see their own relatives arrested in place of the real suspect.

"Supposing I gave you a casual leave and you travelled to your village to meet your sick father and find out that your father has been arrested just because your brother was playing football with some people and fight erupted as a result.

"The inability to arrest your brother made the Police to arrest your father, how will you feel? If you know it is not fair don't do it on others," he said.

On this he insisted that Police operatives must always go back to targets until the real suspect is found.

Every Nigerian, according to the constitution is entitled to human rights and the police authority is expected to respect this and not maltreat the suspects in their custody, he said.