Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris has approved the nationwide inspection of Police cells by the National Human Rights Commission.

The approval came after the Commission requested an independent inspection of police detention cells including that of Special Anti-Robbery Squad across the country.

The inspection is expected to enable the Commission ascertain the condition of detainees and the state of police detention facilities.

This is contained in a statement by the Head of Public Complaints Rapid Response Unit, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Abayomi Shogunle.

Shogunle added that the audit would enable the NHRC oversee the human rights situation of detainees as well as undertake general audit of the state of police detention facilities (cells) in the country.

“This exercise is part of the NHRC 2018 audit of police detention centers in Nigeria,“he said.

The NHRC had urged the Federal Government to review the pre-trial detention system, alleging excessive use and abuse of the practice in Nigeria.

The commission was established by the NHRC ACT, 1995 as amended to deal with all matters relating to promotion, protection and enforcement of human rights in Nigeria.

The PCRRU was established by the police authorities in 2015 with a mandate to receive and resolve cases of professional misconduct brought against officers.