By Osehobo Ofure, Benin City
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Benin Branch, has expressed concern over what it described as worrying violations of human rights in the ongoing clampdown on cultism in Edo State.
In a statement jointly signed by Ekama Itohan, Chairman, and Emmanuel Okorie, Secretary of the NBA Benin Human Rights Committee (HRC), the association expressed deep concern over the mass arrest and arraignments of young men and women allegedly linked to cult activities without adherence to due process.
According to the NBA, many of those arrested were being brought before courts without credible investigations or substantial evidence, a development the association warns could erode the integrity of the state’s judicial system. “The practice of remanding suspects without proof of evidence is a relic of the past and has no place in our modern legal system,” the statement said.
The NBA emphasized that while it supports efforts to tackle cultism and violence, such measures must be rooted in the rule of law and must not trample on the fundamental rights of citizens. “Our courts must remain bastions of justice and fairness, not instruments for perpetuating abuses,” the statement added.
The association urged law enforcement agencies in the state to carry out diligent investigations before arraigning suspects and called on the judiciary to insist on proof of evidence, as mandated by the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Edo State 2018. “We must not compromise justice and fairness in the name of security,” the NBA stated.
The Human Rights Committee of the NBA Benin declared its readiness to work with stakeholders to ensure that the campaign against cultism does not lead to the victimization of innocent individuals. “Human life and dignity must not be collateral damage in the fight against cultism,” the association concluded.
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