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#EndSARS: Nigeria raises judicial panel to investigate police brutality

Government also plans to launch a special trust fund to compensate all victims of police brutality.

• October 15, 2020
Yemi Osinbajo
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo delivers keynote address during the 61st Annual Virtual Conference of the Nigerian Economic Society themed, ”African Continental Free Trade Area in the Post COVID -19 Era”, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Friday (11/9/20). 05019/11/9/2020/Sumaila Ibrahim/BJO/NAN

The federal government on Thursday announced that it will set up a judicial panel to investigate police brutality.

A special fund to compensate victims of brutality will also be launched, the government said in a statement amidst efforts to meet demands of protesters.

Presidential spokesman Laolu Akande said the National Executive Council has set up a panel to investigate police brutality in the country and launched a special trust fund to compensate all victims of police brutality.

“NEC to govs: take charge of police tactical units. Judicial panels of inquiry formed to investigate police brutality in all states and FCT. Council also directs special funds in all states to compensate victims of brutality. States, FCT to form security and human rights committee’, Mr. Akande said. NEC is a policy committee of federal and state governments.

The move came amidst persistent protest by young Nigerians in many states across the country and abroad, demanding that the government dismantle the widely perceived as corrupt and murderous Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigerian police.

SARS has been abolished, but protesters are also asking the police to stop repressing the movement, unconditionally release all detained protesters and visibly begin police reform.

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