The Nigerian Government has compensated seventy-four victims of human rights violations and alleged police brutality with the payment of over two hundred and eighty-nine million naira.
The Independent Investigative Panel on the allegations of human rights violations by the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigerian Police presented the cheques to the victims in Abuja, the nation’s Capital.
This follows the 2020 nationwide protests to end police brutality, tagged #EndSARS
One of the demands of the protesters was an establishment of a panel of judicial enquiry to try officers, who have been involved in cases of human rights abuses and to give justice to victims and their families.
Presenting cheques to the victims under the second batch of payment, the Chairperson Governing Council of the National Human Rights Commission in Nigeria, Salamatu Suleiman, commended the panel under Justice Suleiman Galadima, for the efforts in the past two years.
She said the panel was able to hear two hundred and ninety-four cases and decided on 292 of them.
According to her, “This brings to over four hundred and thirty-one million naira the total sum already paid to 94 beneficiaries under the SARS Panel.”
Suleiman noted that, as an independent Human Rights institution in Nigeria, the commission would continue to exercise its mandate to promote and protect the human rights of Nigerians through constituted mechanisms under the acts of the commission.
She added that the commission would work towards putting in place a permanent mechanism through, which cases of police brutality and other rights violations by law enforcement agents will be addressed.
The Executive Secretary National Human Rights Commission in Nigeria, Mr Tony Ojukwu, while congratulating the beneficiaries, appealed to them to bear with the payment as no amount of money will solve their needs.
While reiterating the commitment of the commission to protect the rights of Nigerians, Mr Ojukwu said, the commission is determined to elevate the rights and protection of the citizens.
Also speaking, the Chairman Independent Investigative Panel on the allegations of human rights violations by the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad SARS, Justice Suleiman Galadima, called on state governments to harmonize their Panels’ reports on rights violations for appropriate action.
Justice Galadima also urged state governments to set aside funds for the panel to carry out its functions.
The victims received cheques from two million to five million naira depending on the level of the violations of their rights.
PIAK
