Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) and other security agencies have been tasked to move against all forms of torture, cruelty, degrading and inhuman treatment.
The Solicitor-General of the Federation, Beatrice Jeddy-Agba gave the charge in Abuja to commemorate the international day for Victims of Torture.
Mrs Jeddy-Agba, who is also the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice and chairman, National Committee Against Torture, maintained that to eradicate torture in Nigeria, it behoved the heads of various law-enforcement agencies and relevant bodies to speak out against the practice.
Represented by the Director of Public Prosecutions in the Ministry of Justice, Mohammed Babadoko, the Solicitor-General said steps had been taken by the federal government towards eradicating torture through the creation of the National Committee Against Torture as well as assenting to many international instruments against the practice.
The Director-General, Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, Aliyu Abubakar pointed out that for torture to be eradicated, the perpetrators had to be punished.
According to him, until those involved in acts of torture are brought to book, serving as a deterrent to others, the practice will persist.
He assured Nigerians of the Council’s commitment in providing free legal services to victims of torture nationwide.
The Executive Director and founder of Prisoners Rehabilitation and Welfare Action, Dr Uju Agomoh called for adequate funding of the National Preventive Mechanism as designated in the National Human Rights Commission as well as the National Committee against Torture.
RN
