NGOs call for greater action against torture

The Prisoners Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA) and the Avocats Sans Frontieres France (ASFF) also known as Lawyers Without Borders in separate statements urged government to help eliminate physical and psychological torture in state institutions in Nigeria.Despite being a signatory to the UN Convention Against Torture, many criminal investigation agencies in Nigeria still use torture […]

The Prisoners Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA) and the Avocats Sans Frontieres France (ASFF) also known as Lawyers Without Borders in separate statements urged government to help eliminate physical and psychological torture in state institutions in Nigeria.
Despite being a signatory to the UN Convention Against Torture, many criminal investigation agencies in Nigeria still use torture to obtain evidence against suspects.
PRAWA Deputy Director,  Yinka Lawal,  called for reparations for victims of torture, explaining that the practice is rampant in Nigeria due to inadequate crime detection facilities.
“Physical torture is a common practice in police detention facilities where for reasons of inadequate forensic facilities, inadequate capacity, training and oversight, the majority of detainees experience torture,” he said.
Lending its voice, ASFF said available statistics shows that 90 per cent of torture around the world are “committed by public officials or individuals acting in official capacity.”
Its communications officer,  Esther Akpa , said the NGO has successfully prosecuted torture cases free of charge since 2009 in three target states of Enugu, Plateau and Kaduna while pledging commitment to the UN campaign.