PRESS STATEMENT
ABIA SECURITY OPERATIONS: BALANCING CRIME CONTROL WITH HUMAN RIGHTS OBLIGATIONS
Aba, Abia State | 19th December 2025
The Centre for Human Rights Advocacy and Wholesome Society, (CEHRAWS), has reviewed the 2025 security briefing presented by the Abia State Police Command, detailing arrests, prosecutions, recovery of firearms, and the rescue of trafficked children and infants across the State.
CEHRAWS acknowledges that the Nigeria Police Force is constitutionally empowered under Section 214 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) to prevent and detect crime, protect lives and property, and maintain public order.
The reported interventions against violent crime, child trafficking, sexual offences, cult-related activities, gun running, and organised criminal networks demonstrate an active security posture by the Command.
Commenting on the briefing, Okoye Chuka Peter, civil rights advocate and representative of CEHRAWS, stated:
> “We recognise the duty of the Police to confront criminality decisively. The rescue of trafficked children, recovery of illegal firearms, and prosecution of violent offenders are outcomes that align with the State’s obligation to protect life and public safety.”
However, CEHRAWS emphasises that crime control must be matched with strict adherence to constitutional safeguards. Sections 35 and 36 of the Constitution guarantee the rights to personal liberty and fair hearing, while the Anti-Torture Act, 2017, expressly prohibits torture, cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment during arrest, detention, or investigation.
According to Okoye Chuka Peter:
> “Security operations must never be allowed to drift into arbitrariness. Arrests, detention, and investigations must strictly follow due process. Any deviation weakens public confidence and exposes law enforcement to avoidable legal and moral liability.”
CEHRAWS further notes that cases involving child trafficking, defilement, and sexual violence impose a heightened legal duty on law enforcement agencies. Such cases must be investigated and prosecuted in compliance with the Abia State Child’s Rights Law, 2003, the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2006, and the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2019, with priority placed on victim protection, confidentiality, and speedy justice.
Emphasising this responsibility, Okoye added:
> “Children who survive trafficking or abuse must be treated first as victims, not evidence. Their dignity, safety, and long-term welfare must remain central throughout the criminal justice process.”
CEHRAWS therefore urges the Abia State Police Command to consolidate its reported security gains through rights-compliant policing, transparency, humane detention practices, and sustained engagement with communities and civil society organisations.
Sustainable security, CEHRAWS maintains, is achieved not merely through enforcement and statistics, but through justice, accountability, and unwavering respect for human dignity and the rule of law.
Signed:
Okoye, Chuka Peter
Executive Director
cehraws@gmail.com | +234(0)808-035-1242 (WhatsApp only), +234(0)803-552-9865 (Calls).
