By Oamen Areguamen
LAGOS—Human rights group, Centre for Constitutional and Demilitarisation, CENCOD, has charged security agencies in the country to respect and protect the rights of Nigerians and not turn themselves to tormentors of the people.

Chairman Board of Trustees of CENCOD, Dr Sylvester Odion-Akhaine, stated this while briefing news men in Lagos.

He said the rule of law should be the guiding principles within which security agencies in the country should operate.

He said: “We wish to appeal to security forces in the country to respect and protect the rights of Nigerians. This report indicts them as the sector of society most involved in rights violation, especially extra-judicial killings. They should not turn themselves to tormentors of the people.”

“The rule of law is a sufficient guide for their operations. We also want to appeal to Nigerians to always report cases of violation to the human rights non-governmental organizations as well as the appropriate state agencies so as to help the relevant agencies proffer solutions to the violations.

“Rating Nigeria on the basis of its respect for civil and political right we would say without fear of contradiction that the county is not free.

“The report has implication for policy. Nigerian state actors should make use of the report in shape. policy towards addressing the sundry social problems facing the country.

“They don’ t need another finance-tied consultation to appreciate the level of social crimes in this country.

“They only need to read this report; they would come to grips with what needs to be done. The social problems in the country are so weighty that if not addressed the fate of the country hang on the precipice.”