Benue Trains Security Officers on Human Rights Principles.

By Ijeoma Obioma.

The Benue State Government has concluded a training session to educate officers on the basics of the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights (VPSHR), aiming to reduce human rights violations within the state.

Our correspondent reports that the training for security operatives was a joint initiative organised by the Special Advisers to the Governor on Security and Internal Affairs and on Security and Strategic Liaison.

Addressing the participants, Mr. Joseph Har, the Special Adviser on Security and Internal Affairs, encouraged officers to incorporate human rights principles into their work to balance security needs and prevent human rights abuses.

He stressed the need for the government to continually retrain officers in the state to reduce incidents of rights violations reportedly linked to security personnel.

The governor’s aide noted that the training would serve as a foundation for an upcoming Code of Conduct document for Benue State security personnel, which would incorporate VPSHR guidelines to promote ethical behavior, accountability, and transparency.

In his presentation, Dr. Josep Wanshe, Acting State Coordinator of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in Benue state, affirmed the Commission’s commitment to human rights education for security personnel.

Wanshe emphasised that the NHRC’s efforts are dedicated to equipping officers with VPSHR principles.

“This training empowers our security personnel to perform their duties with a rights-compliant approach, which is essential for building trust and fostering protection within our communities,” Wanshe said.

Edited by Dada Ahmed.