Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani
Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani has urged law enforcement agencies across the country to prioritise non-violent methods in carrying out their duties, stressing that force must only be applied when absolutely necessary and strictly in a proportional manner.
The governor, represented by Deputy Governor Dr Hadiza Balarabe, spoke in Kaduna as Special Guest of Honour at an event marking the International Human Rights Day, organised by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
With the theme of the dialogue was: “Proportional Force and Respect for Human Dignity – A Dialogue in Governance.”
Governor Sani warned that under no circumstances should force be used “vindictively, discriminatorily, or as a form of extrajudicial punishment,” particularly against individuals who offer no resistance.
He explained that even in situations where the use of force becomes unavoidable, it must remain reasonable and grounded in the realities of the moment.
“Violent or potentially violent suspects should be arrested or killed only in very extreme cases, where using force or lethal force is the only option left to stop an imminent risk to life,” he said.
The governor reaffirmed that the right to human dignity is fully protected under Section 34 of the 1999 Constitution, which prohibits torture, inhuman or degrading treatment, slavery, servitude, and forced labour.
He noted that these rights are equally guaranteed under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
Despite these constitutional safeguards, he expressed worry that violations remain widespread, particularly among security and law enforcement agencies nationwide.
He said the major challenge for government is striking a balance between protecting human dignity and allowing law enforcement agencies to exercise proportional force when necessary.
According to him, proportional force is the legal threshold intended to ensure that state actors do not infringe on fundamental rights.
“When force exceeds the proportional threshold, it becomes a violation of the very rights and dignity it is meant to protect. Conversely, the use of disproportional force may result in violations of the right to life, personal liberty, and freedom of movement.” he said.
He noted that no law precisely defines what constitutes proportional force, making it necessary to evaluate each incident on its unique circumstances.
Governor Sani also highlighted Kaduna State’s “carrot and stick” approach to addressing banditry and insecurity, combining kinetic (military) and non-kinetic (peace-building) strategies.
He said the approach allows the government to determine when coercive force is required and when dialogue, negotiation, or other peace-building measures are more effective.
“This strategy has proven effective and successful in Kaduna State,” he said, adding that it provides a balanced framework for both immediate security response and long-term conflict resolution.
