The Anambra State Police Command has urged residents to embrace unity and discard the long-standing ‘osu’ caste-based discrimination within communities.
The appeal was contained in a statement released in Awka on Wednesday by the command’s spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga.
According to Ikenga, the continuation of the osu practice undermines citizens’ rights and contradicts modern standards of equality.
“The Police Command in Anambra has reiterated that any form of discrimination, humiliation, or denial of rights based on caste practices is barbaric, unlawful, and a gross violation of the fundamental human rights guaranteed under Nigerian law.
“Section 42(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), provides that no citizen shall be subjected to any form of discrimination on the basis of community, ethnic group, place of origin, sex, religion, or circumstance of birth.
“Likewise, Section 34(1) affirms the right to dignity of the human person and prohibits all forms of inhuman or degrading treatment.
The command further appealed to the people of Anambra to uphold peace, fairness, and respect for one another, while promptly reporting any incidents of caste-related discrimination for redress.
It also reminded residents that the Discrimination Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2018, outlaws all forms of discriminatory conduct and prescribes sanctions for violators.
Ikenga warned that those enforcing caste restrictions, including preventing couples from marrying based on such practices, will be prosecuted as their actions have no place in the country’s legal framework.
He stressed that Nigeria operates under the rule of law, not oppressive traditions, and anyone found guilty of sustaining caste-based discrimination would face strict legal consequences.
Ikenga emphasised that the command remains resolute in safeguarding the rights and dignity of all individuals in the state.
He concluded by reaffirming the police’s commitment to ensuring that every citizen in Anambra enjoys freedom, equality, and security without fear of cultural bias or social prejudice.