By Suzan Edeh
Bauchi – A Non-governmental organization known as Noprin (Network on Police Reforms in Nigeria) with support from MacArthur Foundation has called for an increased synergy between security agents and citizens in the country in order to reduce the rate of human right violations.
The National Coordinator, Ikule Emmanuel stated this at a two day summit on Strengthening Police Reforms in Nigeria with theme “Youth Inclusion in Police Reforms”, which took place at Pali Resort Hall in Bauchi.
According to the National Coordinator, Noprin Foundation is a network of 67 NGOs spread across the states of the federation, working on Police Reforms that will be responsive to the needs of the common man as well as the protection of the lives of the citizens of the country.
The Noprin National Coordinator said that the aim of the summit give the youths the opportunity to give their inputs in the issue of police reforms, thereby fostering a community police relationship.
“We have identified that there is a gap between the police and the youths. When Issues are left unattended to, it tends to widen the gap between the police and the community.So there is the need for us to come together and have a clear level working ground so that the country can develop”
“There have been a lot of series of human rigth abuses which are under reported in the country, particularly in the North-east and North-west zone.As an organization, we have organized public tribunals in four geopolitical zones of Imo, Rivers, Abuja and Lagos state where victims of human rigth abuses can report and get justice “
“We document cases of human rights abuses and contact our member organizations who will provide legal services for victims of human rigth abuses for free. We try to address the problem from the level of the community before it escalates ” he said
Presenting a paper entitled, “Tackling insecurity in the North-east of Nigeria: Collaborative role of Youths and Police in crime detection and Human rights Abuses”, a Senior lecturer of the Department of Business Administration and Management, Federal Polytechnic Bauchi and former Vice-chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association Bauchi Chapter, Barrister Aniekan Mende Esq, recommended that to restore security, peace and order in the Northeast region, kidnappers, bandits and insurgents must be pro-actively tackled by the police in collaboration with other security stakeholders, including Youth groups in rural communities.
He stated that adequate infrastructures should be created to engage the youths who may be easily recruited by criminal groups to cause insecurity in the region, stressing that gainful engagements would take minds of youths away from crimes.