Gov. Uba Sani Urges Security Agencies To Avoid Excessive Force, Uphold Human Dignity
Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has called on security and law enforcement agencies across Nigeria to adopt non-violent approaches in their operations, stressing that the use of force must be strictly necessary and proportionate.
The governor, represented by Deputy Governor Dr. Hadiza Balarabe, delivered the message in Kaduna at an event marking the 2025 International Human Rights Day, organised by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). The dialogue centred on the theme: “Proportional Force and Respect for Human Dignity – A Dialogue in Governance.”
Governor Sani cautioned that force should never be used as punishment or applied in a discriminatory manner, especially against individuals who pose no resistance. Even when force becomes unavoidable, he said, it must be reasonable and based on the circumstances at hand.
“Violent or potentially violent suspects should be arrested or killed only in extremely rare situations where lethal force is the sole option to prevent an imminent threat to life,” he stated.
He reaffirmed that the right to human dignity, guaranteed under Section 34 of the 1999 Constitution, prohibits torture, inhuman or degrading treatment, servitude, and forced labour. These protections, he noted, are further enshrined in international and regional human rights instruments.
Despite these safeguards, the governor expressed concern over continued rights violations involving security personnel nationwide. He said one of government’s biggest challenges is balancing human dignity with the need for law enforcement to apply proportionate force when required.
Sani stressed that while no law provides a precise definition of proportional force, each case must be evaluated based on its unique circumstances. Excessive force, he warned, risks violating rights to life, liberty, and freedom of movement.
The governor also highlighted Kaduna State’s combined kinetic and non-kinetic approach to tackling insecurity, describing it as a “carrot and stick” strategy. He said the blend of military action and peace-building interventions has yielded positive results for the state.
According to him, the model provides a balanced framework for immediate security response and long-term conflict resolution.
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