A report by Amnesty International accusing the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigeria Police of torture and bribery has been rebuffed by the Nigeria Police Force.
The report which Amnesty International captioned “NIGERIA: YOU HAVE SIGNED YOUR DEATH WARRANT” special Police Squad ‘get rich’ torturing detainees and demanding bribes in exchange for freedom” according to the police is a clear misrepresentation of facts, unverified accounts and absolute distortion of the current situation in SARS throughout the country.
In a statement signed by DCP Don N. Awunah the force Public Relations Officer, the assertion of the Amnesty International Nigeria researcher Damian Ugwu who described the operations of SARS that detainees are subjected to “horrific torture methods, including hanging, starvation, beatings, shootings and mock executions, at the hands of corrupt officers from the feared squad was a ‘fantasy.’
“The report is evidently the characteristic mindset and pattern of Amnesty International to deride and castigate public institutions especially in developing countries like Nigeria.
“The Amnesty International’s Nigeria researcher, Damian Ugwu’s choice of words in describing the operations of SARS portrays the researcher’s apparent ignorance of the rules of engagement of SARS and the laws regulating criminal investigation in Nigeria.
“The researcher deliberately misconstrued the cautionary words, a prerequisite for suspects to sign before voluntary statement is taken from them as “death warrant”.
“For avoidance of doubt, word of caution is in accordance to Judges Rule 5, which states that, “I have decided to make complaint against you in the court of law, do you wish to say anything? You are not obliged to say anything but remember that whatever you say shall be taken down in writing and may be given in evidence”. The Nigerian Lawyers and the court system are aware of these words of caution but to Amnesty International, it translates to “death warrant”.
The statement said the force has in place a functional and pragmatic disciplinary measure against erring officers and men, and has charged to court police officers involved in proven cases of violations of rights of suspects in detention with verifiable facts.
The statement also said the force has been working with critical stakeholders in the criminal justice system in the country and other local and international NGOs and partners including foreign embassies and international human rights organisations to train and retrain police personnel to conform to International best practices on care and custody of detainees in its detention facilities across the country.
“It must be pointed out that suspects/detainees in police detention facilities generally have unfettered access to legal practitioners of choice, access to relatives at regulated time and care.
On feeding and medical attention for detainees, the statement said; “It is the practice throughout Nigeria Police Force detention facilities across the country that detainees are fed by Police food contractors on reasonable meals on daily bases and medical attention are promptly given to those who fell sick while in detention before they are taken to court.”
The police statement further urged Nigerians and the International community to discountenance and disregard the Amnesty report as a clear demonstration of mischief and calculated attempt to promote a campaign of calumny and hidden agenda of suppressing growth and development in Nigeria.
“The Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Idris wishes to reassure Nigerians and the International community that the Nigeria Police will continue to discharge its statutory functions according to all known laws and regulations despite obvious distractions.
“The Nigeria Police is determined to adhere to principles of International Police reforms, conform to standard discipline and rewards system, building trust and confidence in the citizenry and will not condone torture and other ill treatment of suspects in the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) detention or any of its detention facility throughout the country. The Nigeria Police performance in International organisations has been a source of pride to Africa and the United Nations.
