The Commissioner of Police in Imo State, CP Aboki Danjuma, has warned police officers in the state not to violate people’s rights while carrying out their duties. He made it clear that any officer who disrespects the rights of others, including suspects, will be punished. He said no one under his leadership will escape punishment if found guilty of such actions.
He spoke during a special training programme on human rights organized by the police command. The purpose of the programme was to educate police officers on the need to respect people’s rights while on duty.
CP Danjuma told his officers that the training was meant to help them become more disciplined in their work, build public trust, and reduce cases where the police act unlawfully.
He also reminded the officers that acting professionally is not a choice but a duty. According to him, anyone who breaks the rules or fails to follow proper procedures will face disciplinary action.
During the event, CSP Shaba Gboyako, who is the Chief Principal Security Officer to the state government, gave a lecture on how police officers should treat suspects and citizens without breaking human rights laws. He spoke about the need for officers to remain calm, respectful, and professional during their duties, especially during arrests, patrols, and questioning.
He stressed that every police action must respect the dignity of human beings. When officers abuse people’s rights, it affects how the public sees the police and can lead to legal trouble and internal punishment.
CSP Shaba also explained the parts of Nigeria’s constitution that protect people’s rights, especially Sections 33 to 44. These include the rights to life, personal freedom, dignity, and protection from unfair treatment or torture. He used real examples and legal cases to show how rights can be violated and how police can avoid such mistakes.
He also talked about global human rights rules like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. He reminded officers that Nigeria has promised to follow these international standards.
CSP Shaba told officers to always follow important legal documents such as the Police Act of 2020, the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), and police internal guidelines when dealing with both suspects and regular citizens.
CSP Henry Okoye, the spokesperson for the command, said the police are using this training to show they are serious about becoming more responsible. He said the Imo police are working towards building a professional, people-friendly police force through regular training and commitment to doing things the right way.
