The CLEEN Foundation has called on security personnel across Nigeria to uphold the fundamental human rights of citizens while carrying out their operations.
The organisation’s Executive Director, Mr Peter Maduoma, made the call on Wednesday in Makurdi, Benue State, during a citizens’ engagement with security agencies.
He stressed that while tackling crime and criminality, security operatives must not disregard the rights of individuals, noting that violations of human rights in the name of security operations must come to an end.
Maduoma explained that the engagement was aimed at bridging the trust gap between citizens and security agencies, particularly the police, through dialogue and mutual understanding.
He noted that the meeting was the second phase of such engagement, following an earlier session held in March where stakeholders examined policing challenges within communities in Benue State.
According to him, the current session reviewed developments over the past two to three months and found that many of the previously identified challenges still persist.
He added that the focus of the second-quarter meeting was to identify community structures and opportunities that security agencies could leverage to strengthen collaboration, improve public safety, and enhance security.
“This engagement is not about confrontation but partnership. Security is everyone’s responsibility, especially in intelligence sharing, law enforcement, and respect for human rights,” he said.
Maduoma further disclosed that the programme was organised with support from the Open Society Foundations (OSF) and would continue on a quarterly basis to ensure sustained progress.
In his remarks, Chief Simon Tov, the Kindred Head of Wurukum in Makurdi Local Government Area, commended CLEEN Foundation for creating a platform for dialogue between citizens and security agencies.
He said the engagement had broadened his understanding of crime prevention and pledged to share the knowledge gained with members of his community to help curb criminal activities.
The two-day engagement began on Tuesday and concluded on Wednesday.
NAN
