RULAAC praises DSS DG over human rights reforms, tasks IGP to emulate him

The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has commended the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Tosin Ajayi, over human rights reforms being carried out in the security outfit.

In a statement by RULAAC’s Executive Director, Okechukwu Nwanguma, he commended Ajayi for demonstrating a rare and commendable commitment to upholding human rights, the rule of law, and institutional accountability.

The statement highlighted the remedial steps taken by the DG on historical human rights abuses by the DSS.

He listed the steps to include; -“Release of a number of unlawfully detained individuals, including Abdulyakini Salisu, who had been in detention since 2022;

“Payment of financial compensation to victims of unlawful arrest, wrongful detention, and mistaken identity;

“Tendering official apologies to affected individuals;

“Providing medical support and rehabilitation to victims; taking disciplinary action against erring operatives responsible for these violations.”

Nwanguma said the actions of the DSS 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. He said the DSS DG took concrete actions on remedying the abuses, far beyond merely touting respect for human rights and the rule of law.

Nwanguma regretted that 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.

He said: “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.”