11.03.2008 - Source: US Department of State

UN Rapporteur reports of endemic use of torture in law enforcements operations ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2007") [ID 22777]

"There were reports that security forces tortured persons and used excessive force during the year. In March the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture visited the country at the government's invitation to assess the situation of ill treatment in the country. On the basis of discussions with detainees, visits to prisons and police stations, and forensic medical evidence collected over a one-week period, the rapporteur reported that torture was endemic in law enforcement operations, including police custody, and was often used to extract alleged confessions of guilt. According to his report, the methods of torture included flogging with whips; beating with batons and machetes; shooting a suspect in the foot; threatening a suspect with death and then shooting him with powder cartridges; suspension from the ceiling; and denying food, water, and medical treatment."

Document(s): Open document

11.03.2008 - Source: US Department of State

25-year-old died during police interrogation after being arrested for thievery ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2007") [ID 22778]

"On September 27, 25-year-old Surajo Mohammed died in detention while being interrogated by a Katsina State police sergeant who had arrested him for stealing a bottle of palm wine. State Police Commissioner Dan Doma announced that the officer had been arrested, but no trial had been scheduled by year's end."

Document(s): Open document

06.2007 - Source: Freedom House

Torture by security forces with impunity still common ("Freedom in the World 2007") [ID 20569]

"Nigeria continues to suffer from abuses by security forces and a climate of impunity. In 2005, Human Rights Watch said police still routinely torture detainees. According to the report, rape and mutilation are commonly used to extract confessions, and in various coercion techniques, suspects are suspended from the ceiling by their hands, beaten with metal objects, sprayed in the eyes with tear gas, or shot in the feet; sometimes the injuries result in death."

Document(s): Open document

12.03.2007 - Source: UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

Torture is prohibited by law but there is a high number of consistent and credible allegations received by the Special Rapporteur from speaking with various detainees ("Special Rapporteur on Torture Concludes Visit to Nigeria [HR/07/35]") [ID 20787]

"Nigeria is a State party to all the major international human rights instruments prohibiting torture. The Special Rapporteur was told by Government officials that torture is prohibited by law, though it may occur from time to time, in an unfortunate isolated circumstance, and that the sternest measures are taken against perpetrators, including dismissal and criminal charges. However, these observations appear divorced from the realities prevailing in criminal investigation departments and police stations in the country, especially those that the Special Rapporteur visited. The high number of consistent and credible allegations received from speaking with various detainees, corroborated by forensic medical evidence, in facilities visited in different parts of the country and obtained within the span of a one-week mission, speaks volumes."

Document(s): Open document

12.03.2007 - Source: UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

Torture is used for the purpose of extracting confessions; methods of torture ("Special Rapporteur on Torture Concludes Visit to Nigeria [HR/07/35]") [ID 20788]

"Despite the existence of safeguards for arrest and detention, they are regularly ignored. Torture was frequently cited to the Special Rapporteur as being used for the purpose of extracting confessions or to obtain further information in relation to alleged crimes. Methods of torture included: flogging with whips; beating with batons and machetes; shooting suspects in the foot; threatening a suspect with death and then shooting him with powder cartridges; suspension from the ceiling or metal rods in various positions; and being denied food, water and medical treatment."

Document(s): Open document

12.03.2007 - Source: UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

Impunity of torture during detention and lack of effective complaints mechanisms ("Special Rapporteur on Torture Concludes Visit to Nigeria [HR/07/35]") [ID 20790]

"There was no question about accountability of perpetrators because there are no functioning complaint mechanisms which exist to receive allegations, and to report and seek effective redress for acts of torture. Victims, especially those still in detention, have no confidence in the mechanisms that do exist, such as reporting allegations directly to senior police officials, or to the Human Rights Desks (in those stations where they exist). Other avenues to complain are simply out of reach to the vast majority of those who find themselves in custody: they cannot afford lawyers, and have no practical means of communicating allegations to NGOs. The Special Rapporteur noted with surprise that he received more complaints of ill-treatment during any of his visits to Criminal Investigation Departments than the National Human Rights Commission received in one year."

Document(s): Open document

12.03.2007 - Source: UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

Corporal punishment including Sharia penal code punishments remain lawful in Nigeria ("Special Rapporteur on Torture Concludes Visit to Nigeria [HR/07/35]") [ID 20793]

"The Special Rapporteur notes that corporal punishment, such as caning, and including Sharia penal code punishments, particularly in northern states (i.e. amputation, flogging and stoning to death), remain lawful in Nigeria. Moreover, Sharia-related provisions for adultery and sodomy, discriminate against women and same-sex couples, respectively. The Special Rapporteur recalls that any form of corporal punishment is contrary to the prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. Under international law, they are not lawful sanctions, and violate the international human rights treaties that Nigeria is a party to, particularly the Convention against Torture, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, as well as the Convention on the Rights of the Child."

Document(s): Open document

06.03.2007 - Source: US Department of State

Evidence obtained through torture not permitted to trials ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2006") [ID 19490]

"The law prohibits the introduction into trials of evidence and confessions obtained through torture."

Document(s): Open document

06.03.2007 - Source: US Department of State

Unlike in the previous year, there were no reports that persons died from torture in custody ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2006") [ID 19491]

"Unlike in the previous year, there were no reports that persons died from torture in custody"

Document(s): Open document

06.03.2007 - Source: US Department of State

There were fewer reports of security forces torturing persons this year ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2006") [ID 19496]

"There were fewer reports than in previous years that security forces tortured persons and used excessive force during the year. For example, on July 18, the newspaper Vanguard reported that on April 17, police in Delta State arrested Segun Pioko, tortured him, and killed him in May."

Document(s): Open document

06.03.2007 - Source: US Department of State

There were fewer reports of security forces torturing persons this year ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2006") [ID 19496]

"There were fewer reports than in previous years that security forces tortured persons and used excessive force during the year. For example, on July 18, the newspaper Vanguard reported that on April 17, police in Delta State arrested Segun Pioko, tortured him, and killed him in May."

Document(s): Open document

01.2007 - Source: Human Rights Watch

Police still involved in acts of torture, ill-treatment, extrajudicial killing, arbitrary arrest and property destruction ("World Report 2007") [ID 18976]

"Nigeria’s police and other security forces continued to be implicated in widespread acts of torture, ill-treatment, extrajudicial killing, arbitrary arrest, and property destruction. For example, in August 2006 the bodies of 12 criminal suspects who had been in police custody were found dumped beside a road in the town of Umuahia in Abia state. Later that month, Nigerian army personnel burned to the ground a poor community on the outskirts of Port Harcourt in reprisal for the murder of an army sergeant earlier that day."

Document(s): Open document

01.2007 - Source: Human Rights Watch

Police still involved in acts of torture, ill-treatment, extrajudicial killing, arbitrary arrest and property destruction ("World Report 2007") [ID 18976]

"Nigeria’s police and other security forces continued to be implicated in widespread acts of torture, ill-treatment, extrajudicial killing, arbitrary arrest, and property destruction. For example, in August 2006 the bodies of 12 criminal suspects who had been in police custody were found dumped beside a road in the town of Umuahia in Abia state. Later that month, Nigerian army personnel burned to the ground a poor community on the outskirts of Port Harcourt in reprisal for the murder of an army sergeant earlier that day."

Document(s): Open document

08.03.2006 - Source: US Department of State

Police and armed forces instructed to use lethal force against suspected criminals ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2005") [#46036],  [ID 15664]

"There was politically motivated killings by the government or its agents. National police, army, and other security forces committed extrajudicial killings or used excessive force to apprehend criminals and to disperse protesters during the year, when crowds were perceived by police as possibly likely to become violent. Police and the armed forces were instructed to use lethal force against suspected criminals and suspected vandals near oil pipelines in the Niger Delta region. Multinational oil companies and domestic oil producing companies often hired private security forces and subsidized living expenses for police and soldiers from area units assigned to protect oil facilities in the volatile Niger Delta region. Freelance and former security forces accounted for a portion of the violent crime committed during the year."

Document(s): Open document

08.03.2006 - Source: US Department of State

6 young men held in police custody without being convicted of a crime ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2005") [#46036],  [ID 15670]

"... in May six young men being held in police custody in connection with a bank robbery in Enugu were led before journalists at the state criminal investigation department, even though they had not been convicted of the crime. Their families were denied access to them despite repeated efforts. On May 9, the families were told the suspects had been transferred to state police headquarters in Enugu, but officers in Enugu denied they were there. Days later the bodies of the six young men were found at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital mortuary in Enugu. Officials did not respond to the families' inquiries for additional information."

Document(s): Open document

08.03.2006 - Source: US Department of State

Police, military, and security force officers regularly beat protesters, criminal suspects, detainees, and convicted prisoners ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2005") [#46036],  [ID 15825]

"Although the law prohibits such practices and provides for punishment of such abuses, police, military, and security force officers regularly beat protesters, criminal suspects, detainees, and convicted prisoners. Police physically mistreated civilians regularly in attempts to extort money from them. The law prohibits the introduction into trials of evidence and confessions obtained through torture. In some cases, persons died from torture in custody."

Document(s): Open document

08.03.2006 - Source: US Department of State

Diplomatic driver beaten and robbed on 12 November ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2005") [#46036],  [ID 15830]

"On November 12, following a minor traffic accident in the parking lot of Abuja International Airport, members of the Kebbi State governor's entourage, which included bodyguards for the governor, beat and robbed a diplomatic driver when he attempted to mediate an argument between the entourage and a diplomat. Although complaints were filed with the Kebbi State government and the federal government, no action was taken against the perpetrators by year's end."

Document(s): Open document

08.03.2006 - Source: US Department of State

Diplomatic driver attacked, beaten and arrested on 29 November ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2005") [#46036],  [ID 15831]

"On November 29, police in Abuja attacked, beat, and arrested a diplomatic driver in front of a diplomatic residence, allegedly for driving his vehicle too soon after the vice president's motorcade had passed through the area. Police ordered the driver to appear at a police station the next day, where he was told no charges would be filed against him. No action was taken against the police who attacked him by year's end."

Document(s): Open document

08.2004 - Source: Austrian Centre for Country of Origin and Asylum Research and Documentation

Torture, ill-treatment and degrading treatment in police custody ("Nigeria - Länderbericht") [#28135],  [ID 14928]

"Folter und andere grausame, unmenschliche oder erniedrigende Behandlung sind durch die nigerianische Verfassung verboten. Das US State Department berichtet jedoch, dass Demonstranten, mutmaßliche
Kriminelle, Häftlinge und verurteilte Gefängnisinsassen von der Polizei und anderen Sicherheitskräften regelmäßig geschlagen würden. In einigen Fällen seien Personen infolge von Folter in Haft gestorben, es sei
im Berichtszeitraum 2003 jedoch von weniger Fällen von Folter durch Sicherheitskräfte als in den Jahren zuvor berichtet worden (USDOS 2004, Enleitung, 1.c). Auch Amnesty International berichtet, dass Folter
oder unmenschliche Behandlung in einigen Fällen zum Tod der Verdächtigen geführt hätten. Die Polizei argumentiere hier zumeist, dass die beschuldigte Person während eines Fluchtversuchs ihr Leben verloren
habe. Weiters verweist Amnesty International auf Berichte nigerianischer NGOs, internationaler Organisationen und der Presse, denen zufolge Hunderte nigerianische Bürger im Polizeigewahrsam außergerichtlich getötet worden sein sollen (AI Dezember 2002, S. 8-9).

Grausame und unmenschliche Behandlung von Verdächtigen durch Polizeibeamte zielt häufig darauf ab, Geständnisse zu erpressen. Selbst wenn keine weiteren Beweise zur Untermauerung der Beschuldigung
vorgebracht werden, wird der Verdächtige aufgrund seiner Aussage in Haft gesetzt. Bei einer von der nigerianischen NGO CLEEN (Centre for Law Enforcement Education) durchgeführten Befragung von
Gefängnisinsassen behaupteten 77% der Befragten, in Polizeigewahrsam geschlagen, mit Waffen bedroht und gefoltert worden zu sein (AI Dezember 2002, S. 7).

Laut US Department of State gäbe es nur wenige Fälle, in denen Mitglieder der Polizei bei Misshandlungen zur Verantwortung gezogen würde (USDOS 2004, 1.a). Dennoch kommt es auch zu Verurteilungen. Beispielsweise wurden zwei Polizisten zu zehn Jahren Haft verurteilt, nachdem sie für schuldig befunden worden waren, den Tod von Shehu Isa durch Folter herbeigeführt zu haben (AllAfrica.com/P.M. News 16. März 2004)."

Document(s): Open document

28.05.2003 - Source: Amnesty International

Student denounced of robbery dies after being severely beaten in police custody ("Annual Report 2003") [#13067],  [ID 14929]

"Am 11. Juni nahm die Polizei in Onitsha im Bundesstaat Anambra den 28 Jahre alten Studenten Ndudiri Onyekwere fest und brachte ihn zur Wache von Alausa. Ein Freund hatte den Studenten zuvor beschuldigt, in einen Raubüberfall verwickelt gewesen zu sein. Sechs Tage nach seiner Verhaftung – zwischenzeitlich hatte man ihn in den Gewahrsam der Sondereinheit für Raubdelikte nach Panti überstellt – starb Ndudiri Onyekwere. Seine Familie gab an, er sei am 17. Juni mit Magenschmerzen in das Allgemeine Krankenhaus von Ikeja eingeliefert worden und dort wenige Stunden später gestorben. Bei der Obduktion der Leiche des jungen Mannes wurden Spuren schwerer Schläge festgestellt. Der Obduktionsbericht nannte als Todesursache einen »durch mehrfache leichte Gewebe- und skeletale Verletzungen ausgelösten traumatischen Schock«."

Document(s): Open document
Open document

28.05.2003 - Source: Amnesty International

Vigilante groups in the south of Nigeria commit killings, torture and ill-treatment with tolerance or recognition by states governments ("Annual Report 2003") [#13067],  [ID 14930]

"Armed vigilante groups, especially in the south and southeast, were responsible for killings; acts of torture; cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment; unlawful detention; and "disappearances" of alleged criminals. Some of the groups were tacitly or officially endorsed by state governments to conduct law enforcement functions."

Document(s): Open document
Open document