EndSARS: CAN, Amnesty warn against attacking protesters
The Christian Association of Nigeria on Monday commended the peaceful approach of the proponents of the reform of the police either through the #EndSARS protests or prayer walks nationwide.
The association said it was monitoring the #EndSARS protests nationwide and praying that their unprecedented efforts to have a decent society would not be in vain.
In a statement by its President, Dr Samson Ayokunle, CAN also tabled a nine-point demands, including “compensation for all victims of police brutality and other extrajudicial killings in the last 10 years.”
CAN said, “We are not unaware of your sacrifices, time, money and other risks in your quest for a reformed police and an egalitarian society. CAN acknowledges and appreciates your patriotic agitation in a peaceful manner despite the pockets of attack against you, either by the police or some hired thugs to disrupt the exercise.
“We condemn in strong terms every attempt being made to stop or disrupt the peaceful protest which is lawfully allowed and guaranteed by the 1999 constitution (as amended). We are monitoring the #EndSARS protests nationwide and we are praying that their unprecedented efforts to have a decent society will not be in vain.
“We call on the military and police to resist the temptation to intervene in a civil protest in order to avoid a harvest of deaths. We have had enough of mass burials without fighting a war in the recent past.”
CAN said government should stop paying lip service to the welfare of the people and immediately begin programmes that will bring succour to the suffering masses.
“Our roads must be made motor-able throughout the country for ease of moving human and economic goods while interrupted electricity supply should be ensured among other infrastructures requiring urgent attention in our nation. Our leaders need to wake up to pragmatic and task-oriented leadership now so as to save our nation,” the association stressed.
Governors seek end to protests
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Governors Forum on Monday called for a judicial commission of inquiry to review cases of police brutality, especially by operatives of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad across the country.
While condemning the attack on the Osun State Governor Adegboyega Oyetola by suspected hoodlums, the NGF, in a communiqué signed by its chairman, Kayode Fayemi, appealed to the #EndSARS protesters to suspend their demonstration to prevent hoodlums from hijacking it.
Lagos, Kaduna, Abia, three others inaugurate judicial panel
Meanwhile, Lagos, Ogun, Kaduna, Ekiti, Ondo and Abia states on Monday inaugurated their separate judicial panels of inquiry to look into cases of human rights abuses by members of the just disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigeria Police Force.
The Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, swore in the state’s seven-man Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution headed by Justice Doris Okuwobi at the Lagos House, Marina.
The panel has the mandate to investigate cases of human rights violations by SARS officers and ensure the making of restitution to the victims.
It will be sitting at the Head Office of the Lagos State Waterways Authority at Falomo, Ikoyi from Monday to Friday between 10am to 4pm.
Among members of the panel are human rights lawyers, Messrs Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN) and Segun Awosanya, popularly known as Segalink; a retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police and a founding member of SARS, Mr Taiwo Lakanu; and Director, Lagos State Directorate of Citizen’s Rights, Mrs Oluwatoyin Ogunsanya. Punch
