By Adebisi Onanuga
A non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) has urged federal and state governments to evolve a strategic approach towards caring for the victims of torture in our society.
The NGO, Crime Victims Foundation of Nigeria (CRIVIFON), in a statement to mark the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, expressed concern over the situation in Nigeria and called for a paradigm shift whereby no issue of torture either by agents of the state or members of the public would be treated with levity.
Its Executive Director, Mrs. Gloria Egbuji, in the statement, noted that despite that cases of torture have continued to increase in the country, governments have made little or no serious effort at helping the victims to overcome the psychological, physical, emotional trauma and financial losses associated with such torture.
Her words: “many Nigerians cutting across sex, religion, tribe, age and social class have over the years suffered one form of torture or the other in the hands of state security agencies like the police, Department of State Service, military, customs, immigration, traffic officials and so on.
“Victims of such torture in most cases were innocent of what ever offence that led to the inhuman treatment by the security agents who often times are overzealous in the discharge of their official functions.
“Often times, the victims of such torture are left with permanent physical disabilities that bring endless sorrow to their families particularly where such victims are the bread winners of their families,” the foundation stated.
The foundation drew attention of the first two levels of governments to the provisions of Section 34 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as Amended).
It pointed out that the Section recognises the fact that “every individual is entitled to respect for the dignity of his person” and as such, “no person shall be subject to torture or inhuman or degrading treatment.
“Section 34 of the Constitution also holds that “no person shall be held in slavery or servitude and no person shall be required to perform forced or compulsory labour except as mandated by court of law.”
Other category of victims of torture according to CRIVIFON include those who suffer jungle justice in the hands of angry mob who vent anger and brutality on any one suspected to have been involved in one criminal act or the other without prior investigation or involvement of the law enforcement agents before taking laws into their hands.
“Many times innocent people have been tortured and left with serious body injuries and emotional trauma by members of the public for alleged offences that often turn out to be false,” the emphasised.
The United Nations International Day in support of victims of torture is annually observed on June 26 to remind people that human torture is not only unacceptable but also a crime.
June 26 yearly was chosen by the United Nations via a Resolution in December 1997 to be observed as the International Day in Support of the Victims of Torture. The Day is set aside also to speak against the crime of torture and to honour and support victims and survivors throughout the world.
It is a day that unites all stakeholders towards giving assistance to those who have faced or are facing torture in the society. (The Nation).
