Network for Police Reform in Nigeria (NOPRIN) has called on the government and police authorities to do more to stop extrajudicial killings in the country.

Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos, NOPRIN’s National Coordinator, Emmanuel Ikule, said the group strongly condemned extrajudicial killings.

His words: “As a network committed to promoting police accountability and respect for human rights, we saw it pertinent to direct our cries to the government about the state of affairs in Nigeria before we lose our voice and there is no one to mourn. Section 33(1) of the 1999 Constitution states that every person has a right to life and no one shall be deprived intentionally of his life except in execution of the sentence of a court in respect of a criminal offence of which he had been found guilty in Nigeria.”

Speaking on ways to stop extrajudicial killings in Nigeria, Ikule said.

“In light of an increase in extrajudicial killings, the call for reform of SARS Unit of the Nigeria Police Force can no longer be easily disregarded. There should be proper training and retraining not necessarily disarming them as some suggested.

“The highest authority should demonstrate their total opposition to extrajudicial killings. Those in charge of the security forces should maintain a strict chain of command control. Force should be used only when strictly necessary. There is a need to stop death squad, private armies, criminal gangs and paramilitary forces operating outside the chain of command.

“There should be increased funding for the police force as well as increased remuneration for the officers. The government should ratify inter treaties containing safeguards and remedies against extrajudicial execution including International covenant on civil and political rights and its first optional protocol which provides for individual complaints.”

He called on President Muhammadu Buhari, the Inspector General of Police and the Chief of Defence Staff to take appropriate steps to curb the acts of killings perpetrated by men of the force.

Ikule noted that as law enforcement officers, they were supposed to promote and protect lives and properties as well as have respect for the rule of law.

He noted that in the light of an increase in extrajudicial killings, the call for reform of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) unit of the Nigeria Police Force can no longer be easily disregarded.

While arguing that the Police do not necessarily had to be disarmed as some had suggested to perform their functions under the Police Act, he however maintained that securing the lives and properties of citizens in Nigeria at this time required that law enforcement officers be appropriately armed but also by those who were trained on the use of force.

On what could be done to stem the tide of extrajudicial killings in Nigeria, the National Coordinator observed that the highest authorities of every security agency in Nigeria should demonstrate their total opposition to extrajudicial executions adding that they should make it clear to all members of the security forces in the country that extrajudicial executions would not be tolerated under any circumstances.

He further said that that those in charge of the security forces should maintain strict chain of command control to ensure that officers under their command donot commit extrajudicial execution stating that officials with chain of command responsibility who order or tolerate extrajudicial executions by those under their command should be held criminally responsible for these acts.

According to him, “Government should ensure that law enforcement officials use force only when strictly necessary and only to the minimum extent required under the circumstances. Lethal force should not be used except when strictly unavoidable in order to protect life.

“Death squads, private armies, criminal groups and paramilitary forces operating outside the chain of command but with official support or acquiescence should be prohibited and disbanded. Members of such groups who have perpetrated extrajudicial executions should be brought to justice. Government should ensure that everyone in danger of extrajudicial execution including those who receive death threats is effectively protected.

“Government should ensure that prisoners are held only in publicly recognized places of detention and that accurate information about the arrest and detention of any prisoner is made available promptly to relatives, lawyers and the courts. No one should be secretly detained. All prisoners should be brought before a judicial authority without delay after being taken into custody. Relatives, lawyers and doctors should have prompt and regular visits of inspection to all places of detention.”

He continued, “Government should ensure that the commission of an extrajudicial execution is a criminal offence punishable by sanctions commensurate with the gravity of the practice. The prohibition of extrajudicial executions and the essential safeguards for their preventions must not be suspended under any circumstances including states of war or other public emergency. The prohibition of extrajudicial executions should be reflected in the training of all officials involved in the arrest and custody of prisoners and all officials authorized to use lethal force and in the instructions issued to them. These officials should be instructed that they have the right and duty to refuse to obey any order to participate in an extrajudicial execution. An order from a superior officer or a public authority must never be invoked as a justification for taking part in extrajudicial execution.”

The NOPRIN boss insisted that government should ensure that all complaints and reports of extrajudicial killings are investigated promptly, impartially and effectively by a body which is independent of those allegedly responsible and had the necessary powers and resources to carry out investigation even as he pointed out that the methods and findings of the investigation should be made public.

“The body of the alleged victim should not be disposed of until an adequate autopsy has been conducted by a suitably qualified doctor who is able to function impartially. Officials suspected of responsibility for extrajudicial executions should be suspended from active duty during the investigation. Relatives of the victims should have access to information relevant to the investigation, should be entitled to appoint their own doctor to carry out or be present at an autopsy and should be entitled to present evidence. Complainants, witnesses, lawyers, judges and others involved in the investigation should be protected from intimidation and reprisals, he added.

He also observed that government should ensure that those responsible for extrajudicial killings were brought to justice and should apply wherever such people happen to be, wherever the crime was committed, whatever the nationality of the perpetrators or victims and no matter how much time has elapsed since the commission of the crime.

While submitting that dependants of victims of extrajudicial killings should be entitled to obtain fair adequate redress from the state including financial assistance, Ikule maintained that the acts of extrajudicial killings should be dealt with and made to face the full wrath of the law saying “let’s play our role to end this culture of impunity. NOPRIN will be working closely with you all in Nigeria.”