The directive was given in a move to contain growing public outrage over rising cases of custodial torture and mysterious deaths of citizens while in police custody.
The Nigeria Police Force has ordered the immediate nationwide training of its personnel on suspects’ constitutional rights and professional handling of criminal complaints.
An internal police signal, which confirmed the directive, was obtained by SaharaReporters on Friday.
The directive was given in a move to contain growing public outrage over rising cases of custodial torture and mysterious deaths of citizens while in police custody.
The directive was stated in a classified signal marked CB:4001/DOPS/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.23/577 DTO:271130/05/2025, obtained by SaharaReporters, issued by the Department of Operations (DOPS), Force Headquarters Abuja, and addressed to various MOPOL training and operational bases across the country.
The message directs all Assistant Generals of Police and Commissioners of Police to train their personnel on enforcing suspects’ constitutional rights while handling criminal complaints.
The order comes in view of the recent trends, commitment to professionalism, and respect of human rights.
It explicitly cites recent incidents in Rano-Kano, Kwara, and Enugu, where alleged abuses of power and “death in custody” have sparked public outcry and threatened internal stability.
The 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.”
The directive stated that suspects arrested for minor offenses should henceforth be released on bail without the stringent conditions that citizens typically face at various police stations in the country.
The message continued: “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 wireless message concluded that failure to comply to these directives would attract sever sanction from the police authorities.
“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,” it added.
This is coming a few days after the gruesome killing of Baba Ali, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of the Rano Divisional Headquarters in Rano Local Government Area of Kano State.
The DPO was killed by an angry mob over the alleged torture and death of a suspect, had previously been found guilty of killing two individuals.
The DPO was attacked after enraged residents accused him of arresting and torturing a suspect to death.
The crowd stormed the police station, set it on fire, and severely beat the DPO, who later died in the hospital from his injuries.
Several vehicles were also torched or vandalised during the violent clash between the youths and the police.
Further investigation by SaharaReporters revealed that this was not the first time Baba Ali had been implicated in such acts. In 2020, he was found responsible for torturing two individuals to death, with a third narrowly surviving the ordeal.
SaharaReporters learnt that no few than 41 suspects have been arrested by the police in connection with this alleged murder.
SAHARA REPORTERS
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