The Federal Government has warned security and law enforcement agencies against the use of torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment of detainees in their custody.
The warning was issued, yesterday, by the Solicitor General of the Federation (SGF) and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, Beatrice Jedy-Agba, at an event organised by the National Committee Against Torture (NACT) to mark the 2023 International Day in Support of Victims of torture.
The SGF, who doubles as the chairperson of the committee, equally called on stakeholders, both in the public and private sectors, to speak with one voice against the perpetrators of torture, and for all who suffer in their hands, in order to build a better and more humane society for all people everywhere.
She said: “We wish to use this opportunity to encourage our law enforcement agencies to continue to take measures in combating torture in their detention centres.
“I admonish you to continue to give the NCAT necessary support whenever the committee members reach out as every action taken by the committee is with a view to rooting out torture and ensuring that Nigeria complies with its international obligations.
“We are, indeed, partners in this journey and NCAT will take deliberate proactive steps to sensitise, engage and train our officers on prevention of torture.”
The United Nations’s (UN) International Day in Support of Victims of Torture is annually observed on June 26 to remind people that human torture is not only unacceptable, but also a crime.
The convention, which came into force on June 26, 1987, gives everyone a chance to unite and voice their opinions against human torture.
In 1997, the United Nations General Assembly decided to mark this historic date and designated June 26 each year as the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture.
The first International Day in Support of Victims of Torture was held on June 26, 1998. It was a day when the United Nations appealed to all governments and members of civil society to take action to defeat torture and torturers everywhere. That same year marked the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which proclaims that “no one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.”
In fulfilment of its international obligations against torture that the Federal Government in 2009 established the National Committee Against Torture as Nigeria’s National Preventive Mechanism in line with the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture (OPCAT).
NCAT was re-constituted in September 2022, drawing membership from law enforcement agencies, civil society organisations, academia and other stakeholders, with a view to making the committee more effective.
Members of the reconstituted committee were drawn from the Federal Ministry of Justice, National Human Right Commission, Nigeria Police Force, Legal Aids Council, Nigeria Correctional Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Department of State Services, the Nigerian Army and Nigerian Bar Association.