What does police officers know about human rights? FEATURE BY MR.RIGHTS

What does police officers know about human rights? FEATURE BY MR.RIGHTS

Ignorance they say is a disease; this is the more reason why Mr. Rights had decided to investigate the level of human rights education among Nigerian security personnel.

The investigation was carried out to ascertain the level of   human right enlightenment within the security circle and to some extent, be able to identify areas of weaknesses that needed improvement.

We also believe that outcome of the investigation would also help to properly explain the causes of human rights violation by military/police officers in operations.

In our investigation, MyRights got information from several security officers from different ranks and agencies like the navy, army etc. we also got information from some police officers as well as military men from other countries.

Mr.Rights investigation reveals that, out of every 5 police officers In Nigeria, 4 are not properly educated about human rights. This we believe is an indication to the causes of the several human right violations committed by police officers around the country, violation which include torture, extra-judicial killings, unlawful arrest and many others.

A police officer who spoke in condition of anonymity revealed that, most police officers, especially the junior officers need serious human rights education. He noted that, many field officers, especially the junior ones need proper orientation and re-education about police conduct. In his words, ‘’in a situation whereby a police officer will come on duty and the next thing is to sign riffle and start going to his beat, it is easy for a trained police officer to shoot his gun, but human right education would restrict it’’.

‘’That is why I said most of our colleague need serious enlightenment.’’ He said.

When asked if there was any human right education they undergo as part of their training before being recruited as police, he said, not at all. Though, he was well versed in the subject long before he became a police officer.

However, he noted that, there is a human right desk at every police headquarters in every state. In his words, ‘’don’t you know that Police have a Human right Desk Officer over seeing by a Police Lawyer? Just walk to any State Command and ask, you will find it there, but the problem is, only the legal section are aware about these rights except for very few others, the majority of our colleague are not well enlightened about it and it affects their conduct in public.

After getting this information, Myrights visited a police headquarter in one of the north central states to gather more information, but when he approached the reception desk at the police command and ask about the human right desk, they are unaware of it. The officer at the reception desk directed us to another senior officer, but the senior officer is also unaware. they requested to know the name of the officer we wanted to meet there, but we informed them that we were just directed to the human right desk officer without having his name. We left the command without any officer identifying where the human right desk is within the state police command.

Similarly, A navy personnel whose rank is Seaman but not authorized to speak, stated that, both the Army, Navy and Air force use the same military act, therefore, they are guided under one rule.

According to him, most military officers don’t recognize human rights because it is not stated in the military act they were trained with. He added that, if a military personnel like a soldier violate a civilian and he or she is reported, if such violation is deemed to be against the code of the military, the officer will be charged by the military for bringing disrepute to the army not because of the victim, but because of the action which is deemed to be against the code of the military.

When asked if there are any human rights provisions in the military act that relates with interacting with civilians on the street, he said no.

In his words,’ Not to my understanding, Can’t recall any. But don’t forget that we are also guided by the Nigerian constitution’’.

However, the information we heard from a private British soldier indicates that, as part of military training, human right principles are tutored separately to the officers before they are properly admitted into the military. This according to him increases their awareness and understanding of the human right principles as it relates to their duties as security personnel.

According to a private British soldier who simply gave his name as Thebo, he stated that, As a British Soldier, we have 6 core values. Courage, Discipline, Respect for others, Integrity, Loyalty and Selfless commitment. In his words, the two most important core values in the context of human right is "Respect for others". Respect for others: You should treat people fairly under any circumstances regardless of who they are, position occupied, race, sex, young, old, disable etc. Treat people the way you would like to be treated. He said.

Thebo added that, we have to respect people’s will, wish and avoid intimidating people either because you hold an influential position in the society, work place or because of their predicament.

He further informed that, In British Army, none of the superior officers dare infringe on the human right of junior personnel. I am not saying it has never happened or that it doesn’t happen, but be rest assured that any officer will be court marshal, discharged, and if possible sent to jail if found guilty of infringing on peoples human right be it a civilian or military personnel.

When asked to comment on the intentionally killing of innocent civilians in crisis situation. He stated that,’ I think it just indiscipline and inability to adhere or stick to the rules of engagement. Soldiers are meant to defend the people not kill innocent citizens or people. I believe its Indiscipline and disrespect to humanity. He said.

When asked if there are specific human right training manual which educates the intending soldiers about human rights, Thebo said, Yes there are in the British army, adding that, he can get some of the documents. We have lots of documentation on human right. He said.

Another soldier in the Nigerian army who also spoke in condition of anonymity stated that, most officers do not have basic knowledge of human rights, the only thing they have is rules of engagement which is issued just once before they are despatched to operations. He noted that, some officers may understand the rules properly upon hearing it; others may not, but will pretend to have. He opined that, this may be one of the reasons why military officers act with excessive force which usually amount to human right violations.

A retired colonel in the Nigerian Army, Rtd Colonel Prince Ahmed Zubair who spoke to MyRights on the issue stated that, human right is not something they train you with; it is something that is there on its own. According to the Rtd colonel, basically, you know what human right is; you have freedom to life, freedom of speech etc. In the army, it is not that you will be sat down in the class and be taught that this is human right, however, we have what we call the code of conducts that is normally  issued when you are going out for operation either externally or internally. Basically, soldiers are aware of human rights through the code of conduct. He said.

When told that an officer of the army had claimed that human right education was not taught in the military, he said, human rights are taught, if not, how do we explain the military laws that says, you cannot shoot an unarmed person and a soldier in combat who have surrendered, you cannot shoot women and children even in combat. These are part of the training military personnel have which translate into human right, so, to say that human right is not taught completely is not correct.

He however noted that, training in the armed forces is a continuous task, retrain, train and retrain. Retrain the trainer, train and retrain, so, this training means that every aspect of human existence is taught and before anybody becomes a military, he is first a civilian. And surely, when he retires again, he returns to be a civilian. So, the question is not if they are taught about the right of the civil society, I am sure that it is taught to every soldier, but like I said, there is individual difference and we cannot completely eliminate that, but it can be modified, control for more proper awareness and education.

He also advised that, not just the security personnel’s, even Nigeria as a people need serious education on human relations.

In his words,’’ Education is not just by going to school, but education inform of getting informed about human relationship and how we react to situations.

When asked if he would like to see human right training be introduced to the military training before soldiers are recruited, he said, In the army, we have what we call the military law, we have Geneva Convention as guide, and we study through the human rights requirement as it was enshrined in our constitution. I cannot say now, but at my time, human rights were not being thought, but there is a lot of improvement now because all our training institution in the army would some how touch basic human right requirement.

He added that, during operations, only during operations, soldiers are issued with code of conduct and you should also know that, the training in the military is very encompassing and wide. So teaching of human is welcome, but one, you should know that soldiers are guided with 2 laws. Soldiers are kind of citizens of any country that operate under 2 laws, the constitution of their country like the Nigerian constitution and the army act, that gives directive and guidance on their operation. so, I can say that there are some human right awareness, more so, like the Nigeria defence academy, that is where you are trained to become an officer, they should have some teaching, I am sure they are told the right of every citizen, but like I said, they could always be improvement. He said

He however concluded that, human right applications depends on individuals, it is not that you are not taught, ones action and reaction is what would be used in judging your identity and the organization.

According to barrister Abiodun Dada, a legal practitioner when asked about his opinion about why the Police are committing serious human right abuses in the country, he said, It is lack of understanding of the nature of their job. He noted that, it is not just the police and not all police. In his words, ‘’There are some that are not well trained or because of the mind they have as at when they joined the police. Some police officers didn’t join because they are interested in the police job, many joined because of unemployment. And any job you are doing that is not giving you joy and fulfillment, it is normal that you act in some unfriendly way in it and for that, it better to quit such job’’.

So, as a result of this, you see many people miss behaving, so it’s not just the police that is miss behaving or that trample on peoples right, but selected few that either not properly trained or mostly because they didn’t have much joy doing their job.