The Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) has lauded Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra for establishing the Bureau of Missing Persons.

The CLO chairman in Anambra, Vincent Ezekwueme, gave the commendation in an interview in Enugu on Thursday.

Mr Ezekwueme said the bureau would help in no small measures in providing a database to enhance police investigations and eventual prosecution of suspects, which is a step in the right direction and deserved commendation.

“It is gratifying that Governor Soludo has implemented one of the recommendations of the Truth, Justice and Peace Commission constituted by his government in June 2022 headed by Prof Chidi Odinkalu with Mrs Bianca Ojukwu as secretary,” he said.

The CLO chairman also appealed to Mr Soludo as a matter of urgency and public interest to implement without delay a report of the #EndSARS Judicial Panel of Enquiry on Police Brutality and Other Related Matters constituted by former Governor Willie Obiano.

He said it was unfortunate that the panel, which submitted its report on March 15, 2022, few days to the end of Mr Obiano’s tenure and headed by retired Justice Veronica Umeh, is yet to be implemented.

“The panel carefully, conscientiously and based on merit recommended adequate compensation to the petitioners, if judiciously implemented, will assuage the plights of the victims and petitioners,” Mr Ezekwueme explained. “It is of prime importance to recall that the state received the highest petitions of 310 throughout the country, thoroughly, concisely, investigated all the petitions and based on merit, justice and equity recommended compensation of N700,000,000 to the petitioners.”

He added, “It is very unfortunate and gives credence to the postulation of some school of thought that the panel was instituted to douse political tension.”

According to him, to begin genuine and permanent healing, restitution, reconciliation and restoration process, the Anambra should immediately implement the panel and establish human rights desk or office to help eliminate ubiquitous human rights abuses.

(NAN)