Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says the plan of both the federal and state
governments on police reform will be a game-changer in ensuring an end
to impunity.
The plan includes investigating police brutality as well as providing
compensation to victims of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad
(SARS) and other police units.
Osinbajo’s spokesman, Laolu Akande, in a statement on Friday in Abuja,
said the Vice President made the pledge on Thursday when he received at
the Presidential Villa, Abuja, an American government delegation.
The delegation comprised the US Assistant Secretary, Bureau for
Democracy, Human Rights and Labour, Bob Destro; US Assistant Secretary,
Bureau for Conflict Stabilization Operations, Denise Natali; the
Counselor of the US Department of State, Thomas Brechbuhl.
The Charge d’Affairs, US Embassy, Kathleen FitzGibbon and Foreign
Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, were also at the meeting.
According to the Vice President, no fewer than 13 states including
Lagos, have established Judicial Panels “to seek justice and to
compensate those whose rights have been breached.”
He said that the President had already supported the decisions of the
National Economic Council (NEC).
NEC on Oct. 12 resolved on the immediate establishment of State-based
Judicial Panels of Inquiry to receive and investigate complaints of
police brutality or related extra-judicial killings to deliver justice
for all victims of the dissolved SARS and other police units.
Osinbajo said that NEC also agreed on the provision of monetary
compensation to victims and prosecution of erring officers.
While responding to the concerns of the US government on instances of
impunity in the country, the Vice President noted that the efforts were
part of the Nigerian government’s commitment to implement extensive
police reforms.
He added that the establishment of Judicial Panels of Inquiry nationwide
would further ensure that the Police and other security agencies ensured
the protection of human rights of citizens.
“The concerns around impunity are some of the concerns that informed the
establishment of Judicial Panels of Inquiry across states. Each state is
now required to establish judicial inquiry that will look into cases of
impunity, excessive use of force, extrajudicial killings especially by
law enforcement agents.
“Aside from two representatives of Civil Society groups, these Judicial
Panels will have youth representatives and a representative from the
National Human Rights Commission, among others.
“Each State is also required to have what is called the Special Security
and Human Rights Committee to ensure that law enforcement and security
agencies protect the Human Rights of citizens.”
“Government is paying attention; the point we are making is that
protests are a means to an end, but they cannot be the end; we are very
optimistic that what we have put in place would eventually yield the
best possible results for us,” he said.
The Vice President also highlighted what he termed false narratives
about Nigeria, including the herder-farmer crisis, especially in North
Central states and the politics behind the allegations.
Osinbajo said the herder-farmer crisis was exacerbated mainly because of
land and resources struggle than from the misinterpreted
Christians-versus-Muslim narrative.
Members of the US delegation from Washington DC offered to collaborate
with the Federal Government on the issues, a suggestion welcomed by the
Vice President hoping that such cooperation would create a better
understanding of the issues. (NAN)