RULAAC LAUDS DSS DG ON HUMAN RIGHTS, TASKS IGP TO EMULATE REFORMS

PRESS RELEASE

RULAAC Commends DSS DG’s Human Rights Reforms, Tasks IGP to Emulate Same in the Nigeria Police Force

July 22, 2025 – Lagos, Nigeria

The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) commends the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Tosin Ajayi, for demonstrating a rare and commendable commitment to upholding human rights, the rule of law, and institutional accountability.

We note with satisfaction the recent steps taken under his leadership to:

– Release a number of unlawfully detained individuals, including Abdulyakini Salisu, who had been in detention since 2022;

– Pay financial compensation to victims of unlawful arrest, wrongful detention, and mistaken identity;

– Tender official apologies to affected individuals;

– Provide medical support and rehabilitation to victims;

– Take disciplinary action against erring operatives responsible for these violations.

These actions represent a significant departure from the long-standing culture of impunity in Nigeria’s security sector and offer a concrete example of how security agencies can demonstrate — rather than merely tout — respect for human rights and the rule of law.

In stark contrast, the Nigeria Police Force has persistently failed to act on similar cases of abuse, even in the face of clear court judgments and public outrage. A notable example remains the case of Glory Okolie, a young woman illegally detained by police officers attached to the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) in 2021 for over 150 days, during which she was abused and dehumanized. Despite a Federal High Court judgment awarding her ₦60 million in damages and ordering her release, the Nigeria Police neither issued an apology nor took any disciplinary or remedial action.

RULAAC therefore calls on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to:

1. Publicly acknowledge and apologize for past and ongoing human rights violations under the Nigeria Police Force;

2. Comply fully with all outstanding judicial orders, including payment of damages to victims like Glory Okolie;

3. Set up a dedicated human rights audit committee within the Force to review and redress cases of unlawful detention and abuse;

4. Institute disciplinary action against officers who violate human rights, as a deterrent and commitment to reform;

5. Embrace a leadership approach grounded in transparency, justice, and accountability, similar to the path now being charted by the DSS.

The credibility of Nigeria’s democracy hinges on the conduct of its law enforcement agencies. We cannot continue to condone a culture where police impunity is the norm and citizens’ rights are routinely violated without consequence.

The recent actions by the DSS DG show that reform is possible — where there is the will. The IGP and the Nigeria Police Force must show that they, too, are capable of change.

Signed:
Okechukwu Nwanguma
Executive Director
Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC)

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