Alhasan Bala, Abuja
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Wednesday directed its staff nationwide to monitor the #ENDSARS protests and submit comprehensive reports to enable it to make appropriate recommendations to the government for accountability and remedy.
The commission noted that the authorities had shown reasonable restraint in the management of the protests before now, however, added that the turn of events in the past few days is condemnable.
Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Tony Ojukwu made this known at the inauguration of the independent investigative panel of Human Rights violations by disbanded Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) and other units of the Nigeria Police Force.
The panel comprises Justice Suleiman Galadima (Chairman), Representatives of the civil society; Dr. Lydia Umar, and Dr. Uju Agomoh, representative of the National Human Rights Commission; Abdulrahman Yakubu, and Representatives of Nigerian Youths; Mubarak Mijinyawa.
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Others are Representatives of the Police Service Commission; Tijani Mohammed, representative of Nigerian Police Force, Ibrahim Larmode, representative of the Nigerian Bar Association; John Aikpokpo and Dr. Garba Tetengi (SAN), while Hilary Ogbonna will serve as Secretary.
According to Ojukwu, the NHRC is shocked at the use of live bullets against peaceful protesters as happened on Tuesday and in some other parts of the country where state emergency has been declared.
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“The hoodlums who infiltrated the protests and attacked police officers and destroyed properties of members of the public should be arrested and tried for their actions.
“Innocent members of the public who lost their properties due to the action of these hoodlums must be compensated because they were not given protection by the law enforcement agents.
