Public parade of suspects a human rights abuse, IGP warns officers

The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun on Tuesday, reaffirmed the resolve by the Nigeria Police Force to ban public parade of suspects before formal charges are filed before the court.

Egbetokun said the force is committed to upholding the fundamental human rights of every citizen in line with global best practice.

In a statement issued by the Force Public Relations, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the IGP assured that the directive has been communicated to all police commands and zones for immediate adherence.

He said that this is part of the force’s broader modernisation efforts to reinforce its commitment to respecting the rights of all individuals, including criminal suspects.

The reaffirmation by the police chief follows a directive issued by the Attorney General of the Federal, Lateef Fagbemi urging the force to desist from such acts.

In alignment with the directive by the AGF, Adejobi said, “The IGP emphasised that this policy is aligned with international human rights standards, which prioritise the protection and preservation of the dignity and rights of individuals throughout the judicial process.”

He also assured that the Nigeria Police Force is committed to working within existing legal frameworks that foster respect for human right among its personnel.