By Izunna Okafor, Awka
The Anambra State Police Command has warned against caste-based discrimination in the state, describing it as barbaric, unlawful, and a gross violation of fundamental human rights.
This was made known in a press release issued on Wednesday by the Police Public Relations Officer of the Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga.
According to him, Section 42(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), provides that no citizen shall be subjected to discrimination on the basis of ethnic group, place of origin, sex, religion, or circumstance of birth. He added that Section 34(1) of the same Constitution guarantees the right to dignity of the human person and prohibits all forms of inhuman or degrading treatment.
The Police Spokesman also cited the Discrimination Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2018, which criminalizes all forms of discrimination and prescribes penalties for offenders, stressing that caste-based practices fall under this category.
He noted that any attempts to deny couples the right to marry or live freely together on the basis of caste are not only unacceptable but also unlawful and punishable by law. He explained that once two consenting adults agree to marry, no cultural barrier or discriminatory practice has any legal authority to override their constitutional rights to freedom of association, family life, and dignity.
“The Nigeria Police Command reiterates that the country is governed by the rule of law, not by oppressive or degrading traditional practices,” the PPRO stated, warning that anyone found culpable of enforcing caste-based discrimination will face the full weight of the law.
SP Ikenga urged residents of the state to promote peace, equality, and mutual respect for human rights, and to report any incident of caste-related discrimination to the nearest police station for appropriate action.
He further assured that the dignity, freedom, and security of every individual remain a top priority for the Anambra State Police Command.
