The Assistant Commissioner of Police, Administration, Osun State Police Command, ACP Ademola Adebayo, has urged security agents to operate with restraint and full awareness of human rights when dealing with suspects.
ACP Adebayo made this known while speaking on the second day of a three-day seminar on human rights, musketry, character analysis, forensic analysis and the roles of security agencies in law enforcement on Wednesday in Osogbo.
He challenged officers and other security personnel to rely on their senses and professionalism during operations, stressing that misconduct could undermine justice.
According to him, “touching a uniform man on duty is an assault. The law provides protection for security agencies in the discharge of their lawful duties.”
Adebayo warned strongly against torture, regardless of circumstances, saying officers had no legal right to inflict harm on suspects.
“Don’t torture, no matter the circumstances. You don’t have any right to torture. If you torture and somebody dies, you’d bear your name,” he said.
He noted that understanding the instruments and frameworks for protecting human rights was essential for all security personnel.
The police officer also linked underfunding of security agencies to human rights abuses, describing inadequate resources as a tacit pathway to abuse of human rights.
Adebayo also challenged lawyers and members of the human rights community to appreciate the realities faced by security personnel in enforcing the law.
He appealed for patience from members of the public and urged them to engage security agencies with understanding rather than hostility.
Addressing the issue of public video recording of police activities, he said such actions could serve as documentation that supports accountability.
“Individuals recording police activities in public are aiding the police with record,” he said.
He encouraged security personnel to embrace transparency, adding, “Start doing the right thing now and commission one person among you to start recording.”
Adebayo also cautioned against hostility towards lawyers and legal representatives of suspects, urging mutual respect in the justice process.
“When a security personnel gets a suspect arrested, praise them because they are doing the job despite the odds. Human rights is a must for us to observe,” he insisted.
While advising security personnel to familiarise themselves with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, he said, “Before it gets to the time to apply these laws, go and read them… so that two legal minds can come together to solve a problem without acrimony.”
Respect human rights, professional conduct during operations – ACP Adebayo to security operatives
