In response to increasing public outrage over a surge in custodial deaths and torture, the Nigeria Police Force has issued a directive mandating immediate nationwide training of its personnel on suspects’ constitutional rights and the professional handling of criminal complaints.
According to an internal police signal on Friday, the directive aims to address growing concerns over abuse of power and ensure improved respect for human rights within the force.
The classified message, marked CB:4001/DOPS/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.23/577 DTO:271130/05/2025, was issued by the Department of Operations (DOPS), Force Headquarters, Abuja, and circulated to various MOPOL training and operational bases nationwide.
The directive instructs Assistant Inspectors General of Police and Commissioners of Police to initiate training sessions for their personnel.
These sessions are to emphasize the enforcement of suspects’ rights and proper conduct during the handling of criminal cases.
The signal, quoting from the wireless message, reads:
“FOLLOWING MESSAGE RECEIVED FROM NIGPOL DOPS ABUJA X BEGINS X CB:4001/DOPS/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.23/577 DTO:271130/05/2025 X ORDER AND DIRECTIVES X IN VIEW OF THE RECENT TRENDS X COMMITMENT TO PROFESSIONALISM X RESPECT OF HUMAN RIGHTS X NIGPOL DOPS FHQ ABUJA X DIRECTS ALL AIGZONE/COMMAND COMPOLS X TO LECTURE THEIR OFFICERS AND MEN YOURS/SECTIONAL HEADS/DPOS X REFERENCE ON RANO-KANO INCIDENT X PUBLIC DISTURBANCE OF PEACE X KWARA X ENUGU X DEATH IN CUSTODY X TO ACCORD ALL SUSPECTS THEIR RIGHT.”
Recent high-profile cases in Rano (Kano), Kwara, and Enugu, where suspects reportedly died in custody, have intensified calls for reform.
These incidents, the directive stated, threaten internal peace and public trust in law enforcement.
The police further ordered that individuals apprehended for minor offenses be released on bail without the historically harsh conditions:
“HENCEFORTH SUSPECTS ON MINOR OFFENCES TO BE RELEASED ON BAIL X ANY REPORT OF DEATH IN CUSTODY X AS A RESULT OF DETENTION AND MAN-HANDING X WILL BE VIEWED SERIOUSLY AND SANCTIONED X.”
The message concluded with a stern warning against non-compliance:
“NIGPOL DOPS ABUJA FURTHER WARNS THAT X ALL SECTIONAL HEADS/DPOS X MUST BE RESPONSIVE ENOUGH TO ENFORCE ORDERS FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS ORDER WILL ATTRACT SEVERE DISCIPLINARY SANCTION X YOU ARE TO ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT BY RETURN SIGNAL X THIS IS FOR STRICT COMPLIANCE PLEASE X ENDS X ABOVE FOR YOUR INFORMATION AND COMPLIANCE PLEASE.”
This development comes shortly after the killing of Baba Ali, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Rano Divisional Headquarters in Kano State.
Ali was fatally attacked by a mob following allegations that a suspect in his custody had been tortured to death.
Witnesses claimed the angry crowd stormed the police station, set it ablaze, and attacked the DPO, who later died from his injuries in the hospital.
Several police vehicles were also destroyed during the unrest.
According to reports, this was not the first time Baba Ali had been implicated in such abuses.
In 2020, he was reportedly responsible for the deaths of two individuals under torture, with a third barely surviving.
In connection with the recent incident, the police have reportedly arrested no fewer than 41 suspects for their alleged involvement in the DPO’s killing.
