By EVELYN USMAN

President Goddluck Jonathan, weekend, in Lagos, warned security agents against use of force to extract information and confessional statements from suspects, lamenting that some Nigerians had lost their lives in the process.

The President called on security agents to rather, concentrate more on proactive measures at tackling insurgence in the northern part of the country instead of being reactive.

Jonathan handed down the warning at the passing out parade and official commissioning of Cadet Officers Basic Course 27 COBC held at the State Security Services Academy, Ojo.

Represented by the acting Minister of Education, Nyesome Wike, Jonathan admitted that terrorism had assumed a higher dimension and that it was the major security challenge confronting the country.

He however, said it was being tackled, with the procurement of sophisticated technology by the Federal Government.

According to the President: “This level of trust means that these people who give you information are not going to be penalised or betrayed for giving you information. For instance, if a man reports robbery, he should not be harassed or inconvenienced in any way.

“Remember that the constitution provides that a man is innocent until he is proven guilty by the court. Respects for human rights are the most expensive tools at your disposal.

“The era of using brutality to extract information or confession from people should come to an end. So many Nigerian citizens have been lost in the process to extract confession from them.”

To tackle terrorism, President Jonathan said Department of State Service, DSS, had witnessed over 100 per cent increase in its budgetary allocation in two years.

He noted that in addition to the increase in budgetary allocation, the “Government through the National Assembly is ready to tackle terrorism through the enactment of the Anti- Terrorism Law.“

It is important to bear in mind that in the face of the current insecurity, the Federal Government is more interest in proactive measures of dealing with issues than reactive measures. “