Rights abuse: Reps demand body cameras for security agents
The House of Representatives Thursday called for provision of body-worn cameras for police, customs officers and other security agents. Adopting a motion by Chinedu Emeka Martins, the House said the cameras would ensure security of operatives and citizens. How youths in Plateau community tackle banditry, kidnapping Djokovic eager for Dubai comeback Martins had cited allegations […]
House of Representatives
The House of Representatives Thursday called for provision of body-worn cameras for police, customs officers and other security agents.
Adopting a motion by Chinedu Emeka Martins, the House said the cameras would ensure security of operatives and citizens.
Martins had cited allegations of harassment, extortion and extra-judicial killings of citizens by security operatives.
He said body cameras would keep the security operatives in check, considering the massive allegations of human rights violation against them and lack of evidence to indict them.
He noted that body camera is a wearable audio-visual or photographic system which integrates with in-car video and is used to record events involving law enforcement officers in order to improve transparency and accountability of law enforcement agencies.
He said security operatives, who often experience litigious scrutiny over their conduct in the discharge of their duties, ought to wear body cameras to have picture and video evidence of their activities.
He added: “The introduction of body cameras will not only douse tension and promote trust and professionalism among the security agencies, but will institutionalize the rules of engagement to foster a harmonious relationship between security operatives and the citizenry”.
The House mandated its Committees on Police Affairs, Army and National Security and Intelligence to ensure compliance.