Group tasks citizens to hold police accountable for misconduct, abuse of power

…urges Journalists to promote awareness on Nigeria Police act 2020

By, Chinelo Kodilichukwu Enugu 

A non governmental organization dedicated to enhancing participation and improving security governance in Nigeria and west Africa, Partner West Africa Nigeria (PWAN) has tasked citizens in Nigeria to hold the police accountable for misconduct or abuse of power. 

The group also urged Journalists and media houses to promote awareness to the public on the new Nigeria Police act 2020/ regulation.

The Director of Partner West Africa Nigeria, Kemi Okenyolo represented by the monitoring and evaluation officer Nkem Okereke made this known during a media town hall meeting that took place at Bon platinum hotel Enugu

The Nations News Nigeria reports that the theme of the  media town hall meeting is “Human Rights, the Police Act 2020 and Regulations”.

Okenyolo emphasized that many citizens in Nigeria, remain unaware of their rights under the new police act and may lack the confidence to hold the police accountable for misconduct or abuse of power. 

She noted that the town hall meeting which is specifically organized to build capacity for Journalists and media houses on promoting awareness of Citizens right under the police act 2020, will allow them to address the gap in public knowledge regarding human rights and provisions of the new Police act.

A Facilitator, Bashir Olasupo, in his presentation on “Role of media in promoting awareness of Nigeria Police Act 2020”, urged Nigerian Journalists to promote awareness and ensure the effective implementation of the Nigeria Police Act.

Olasupo said that the awareness can be done through campaigns, informing the public about the provisions of the Police Act, emphasizing rights, duties, and the reforms it introduces to enhance police accountability and community policing.

He further urged them to Create a platform for citizens to report their experiences with the police, fostering dialogue between the community and law enforcement agencies and also amplifying the narrative surrounding police reforms.

Another facilitator, Okechukwu Nwanguma, a Program and executive director rule of law, accountability and advocacy center, said “The Police act 2020 /regulation” highlighted the content of the new reforms in the police act. 

He further tasked Journalists to independently monitor, investigate and verify claims by police and paraded suspects, especially during and after press briefing.

Some of the participants who were panelists appreciated PWAN for the training and recommended that police should enlighten and retrain police personnel,  and that police should insist on physical, mental and educational qualification before recruitment.