THE STATE OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN NIGERIA 2005 - UNDP Nigeria ...

After a series of counseling by staff of the National Human Rights Commission, Abdul agreed to returnto his mother at Okene and he was taken back and reconciled with his family.Tunde Adeniyi, a one year old baby was injured when the police shot at a commercial bus withregistration number Ondo, XB 998 REE, at a police check point in Ataoja area, Osogbo, OsunState, on June 13, 2006. The child’s father, Ismaila Adeniyi, and another passenger,FunkeOyinlola were also injured in the shoot out. They were taken to State Hospital, Asubiaro, Osogbo fortreatment by the police at the insistence of the other passengers.An eyewitness told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that a team of mobile policemen, stopped thecommercial bus and demanded for money.The driver gave them 20 Naira, which to the policemen wasinadequate. As a result, one of the mobile police personnel shot at the bus, thereby hitting the abovementionedchild and the two others.Upon receiving the news of the incident, Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola of Osun State, the AssistantInspector­General of Police in charge of the zone, Mr Tunji Alapini and the StatePolice Commissioner, Sulaiman Fakai visited the victims in the hospital. The policeman who shot at thebus, was arrested and is being prosecuted.Joshua Olayemi, Osun State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), stated that the incident wasregrettable, describing it as “mishandling of weapons”. He further noted police efforts to retrain itspersonnel in the handling of weapons as a strategy aimed at curbing extra judicial killing.CHILDREN IN PRISONIntroduction:Detention of children in prison is a disturbing phenomenon. Such detention infringes on children'sright to survival and development. The details of children incarcerated in Kuje and SulejaPrisons, as at 28 th September 2006 are as follows:1. Basiru Rabiu, aged 16. He resides at Jabi Motor Park and was charged with stealing atelephone handset and a wristwatch before Jiwa Magistrate’s Court who ordered hisdetention in Suleja prison since July 2006.2. Musa Mohammed, aged 17, from Niger Republic is a case of hostage taking. He is asecurity guard to the suspect (his boss) who was accused of stealing rods and is at large.The police arrested him for theft since his boss was not found. He was arraigned beforeJabi Magistrate’s Court on 26 th September 2006. Human rights monitors saw him in SulejaPrison and he said he was detained on 26 th September 2006. He pleaded not guilty to thecharge. There was nobody to take him on bail so; the Magistrate ordered his remand inprison.3. Ejike Nwokoye, aged 17. He resides in Suleja. He works as a telephone­technicianapprentice.He is charged with Theft/Conspiracy before Magistrate’s Court, Old NitelRoad, Suleja,Niger state.He has been in detention in Suleja prison since September 2006.56