World Human Rights Day: Activist wants security agencies avoid torture

A Yenagoa-based human and environmental rights activist, Mr Alagoa Morris, on Saturday urged security agencies to avoid torture and adopt civilised techniques of interrogation. Alagoa, who spoke on Saturday during the 2016 World Human Rights Day, urged the police and other security agencies to improve in their investigation techniques. The commemoration had the theme: “Stand Up for Someone’s Rights Today’’. The United Nations set aside Dec.10 annually as Human Rights Day in commemoration of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in 1948. According to Alagoa, these techniques will help to get voluntary statements from suspects. The activist said that the human rights record of a country showed its development status. “The world is constantly advancing and making progress; we have to move along with our judicial system. “If we continue to use crude method – torture, we merely portray ourselves as primitive people. “The work of human rights protection is a collective one, and we call on members of the society to uplift the ideals of human rights for the attainment of an egalitarian society. “We should live by the golden rule that says: Do unto others as you will want to be treated,” Morris said. He called on the police to ensure prosecution of officers and men found guilty of human rights violation or abuse. He said that the recent case of a policeman who allegedly shot a fellow policeman to death in Bayelsa, over N20, 000, was regrettable and should be a test case to the police authorities.