The Federal, Lagos and Oyo State Governments have received not less that 126 petitions on human rights violations by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a unit of the Nigeria Police Force.
Government officials who disclosed this to reporters on Tuesday stated that 65 petitions had been received by the Federal Government, 46 in Oyo and 15 in Lagos State.
Remember that the Nigerian youths staged a two-week protest to demand for the disbandment of SARS on October 8. The protests took place across major cities of the country.
On October 12, the Federal Government announced the disbandment of SARS, but the youths insisted that the Federal Government was yet to meet their five demands.
The demands included the release of all #EndSARS protesters, justice for the deceased victims of police brutality, setting up panels to investigate police brutality, psychological evaluation of SARS officers and increase in police salary.
On Tuesday, the Federal Government’s Independent Investigation Panel on Human Rights Violations by SARS said it had received 65 petitions on right abuses by the SARS operatives.
The 11-man panel led by Justice Suleiman Galadima, a retired justice of the Supreme Court, was inaugurated by the Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Mr. Tony Ojukwu, on October 21.
The Secretary of the IPP, Mr. Hilary Ogbonna, confirmed that the panel has received 50 petitions from different part of the country before the inauguration last week Wednesday, thereafter, received additional 15.
He said, “We had received 50 petitions before. Over the last one week we have received 16. So, we have received 65 petitions so far. But that is not the final figure as we keep receiving petitions.”
When asked when panel would begin sitting, Ogbonna said, “We are considering next week, but no date yet.”
The Lagos State Panel of Inquiry and Restitution set up by the state government had received 15 petitions.
In Oyo State, Governor Seyi Makinde, disclosed that not less than 46 persons had reported cases of rights violations and police brutality through a platform created for that purpose.
The Governor disclosed this on Tuesday in Ibadan while talking to representatives of the youth, artisans, drivers and other categories of people in the state.
He said, “Forty-six persons have so far reported infractions and rights abuses. Representatives of the youth and artisans will serve on the panel of inquiry.”
