No fewer than 74 persons of police brutality have received compensation N287 million in compensation from National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
The first batch of N146million compensation was awarded on December 23, 2021, to 26 people.
Dr. Salamatu Suleiman, the chairman of the NHRC governing board, congratulated the petitioners for their faith in the human rights mechanisms in Nigeria.
“The commission will continue to exercise its mandate to promote and protect the rights of every Nigerian.
”While we look forward to receiving the final report of Justice Galadima’s panel, the commission will work towards putting in place a permanent mechanism.
“We call upon Nigerians to continue to uphold their rights and make good use of the offices of the commission in the 36 states and the FCT to report violations of their rights,” She said.
Also, the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Anthony Ojukwu, described the occasion as very significant in many respects and explained that the amount today cannot solve all the problems but it is symbolic.
“The mandate of the commission is to make sure the rights of all of us are protected.
“We want to elevate the protection of human rights, those whose rights are violated are compensated and the violators recommended for punishment,” he said.
Ojukwu urged all not to take laws into their hands because this gesture by the government is an indication that the country is moving forward.
Mr. Hilary Ogbonna gave the breakdown of the beneficiaries, saying 25 are for extrajudicial killing, four enforced disappearances, 24 torture, 16 prolonged detention, and four confiscations of properties.
He said 58 beneficiaries’ demo cheques are ready while the rest had some issues that needed to be sorted.
The panel was set up by the Federal Government in November 2020 following the “ENDSARS Protest” which was triggered by nationwide allegations of Police brutality.
The panel is investigating violations of human rights by the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and other police units.
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