NHRC condemns attacks of protesters, says govt ‘ll compensate victims of SARS

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has referred the attacks against the peaceful protests around the nation as condemnable, saying 57 persons who were victims of SARS in the past would be awarded a monetary compensation of N264m within a short period of time.

The Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission Tony Ojukwu stated this while inaugurating the Independent Investigative Panel of Human Rights Violations by SARS and other Units of the Nigeria Police Force (IIPSARS) 2020 on Wednesday, in Abuja.

He said: “In the midst of all these efforts to shape the future of the Police Force Nigeria wants, the Commission is saddened by the turn of events in the ongoing peaceful protests. Whereas the authorities had shown reasonable restraint in the management of the protests before now, the turn of events in the past few days are condemnable. The Commission is shocked at the use of live bullets against peaceful protesters as happened yesterday in Lagos and some other parts of the country where State of emergency has been declared.

“The Commission wishes to reiterate that nothing short of holding accountable the officers who directed and unleashed the use of live ammunition  against peaceful protesters will be acceptable.

He said hoodlums who infiltrated the protests and attacked Police Officers and destroyed properties of the members of the public should be arrested and tried for their actions. “Innocent members of the public who lost their properties due to the actions of these hoodlums must be compensated because they were not given protection by the Law Enforcement Agent. The Commission has directed its staff nationwide to monitor the protests and submit comprehensive reports to enable it make appropriate recommendation to the government for accountability and remedy,” he added.

Ojukwu disclosed that, “we are happy today that the report of the three person panel has been accepted by the federal government for the implementation as a sign of its commitment to implement Police reforms. The disbandment of SARS was the key recommendation of the report and this has already been implemented. The Police Act 2020 has been signed into law by the Government as part of the recommendation of the Commission to facilitate reforms in the Police. The names of SARS officials recommended for disciplinary and other actions have been submitted to the PSC, the HAGF & MOJ, as well as the IGP for further necessary actions. The recommendations are as follows: recommended for dismissal (35), prosecution (33), reduction in rank (23), obey court order (4) respectively, award of monetary compensation (57), amongst many others.

While responding to questions, he further disclosed that 57 persons who were victims of SARS in the past would be awarded a monetary compensation of N264m within a short period of time.

 Speaking, the chairman of the panel, Justice Suleiman Galadima, JSC (Rtd) said the event was timely because of the activities happening due to the peaceful protest lauding the Commission for the trust imposed on the selected members of the panel to investigate.

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