Crime
NASS assures justice for victims of SARS abuses
The National Assembly has said that it would collaborate with the Executive arm of government to ensure justice for victims of misconduct and rights abuses by personnel of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS of the Nigeria Police.
This is even as it also assured that, “to discourage impunity, we will insist that the perpetrators of the alleged abuses be prosecuted and sanctioned as appropriate.”
Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, who gave the assurances in a statement he personally signed and issued on Monday further called for “a thorough investigation of every criminal act that we have witnessed in the past few weeks with a view to bringing to justice all those elements, who have so callously destroyed public and private property.”
He, however, pledged the full commitment of the National Assembly to putting the necessary legislation in place for comprehensive reform of the Police to enhance their institutional integrity and efficiency.
“We will also work with the Executive to ensure that the five-point demands of the #EndSARS protesters which the government has committed itself to are fully implemented,” he added.
Lawan equally promised that the legislature would ensure that government fulfills the commitment it has made to the well-meaning agitators for police reform and good governance in spite of the unfortunate hijack of the protests by hoodlums to unleash horrifying violence, arson, looting and wanton destruction of public and private property on the country.
While sympathizing with the victims of the violence and criminality witnessed in the last few days in many parts of the country, he also condoled the families of security and law enforcement agents who died during the crisis.
“Now that the mindless carnage has distorted the purpose of the protests, I urge the youths to join hands with the authorities in bringing an urgent cessation to the violence.
“I call on our patriotic youths to leave the streets as the government has heard their voices and is addressing their grievances. This is also necessary to avoid unwittingly continuing to provide covers for the criminals and fifth columnists in our midst,” he appealed.
The Senate President, however, urged the security agencies to forthwith but with utmost restraint, restore law and order across the country and bring the criminals unleashing terror on our cities under the guise of the protest to justice.
He said “while still grappling with the havoc of COVID-19, the country can ill afford yet another epidemic that has now appeared in the form of the lawlessness that is going on.”
Lawan commended the leaders and other well-meaning Nigerians for their interventions towards restoring peace and order after the unfortunate degeneration of the protest into chaos and brigandage in many parts of the country.
He particularly thanked all Nigerians “for their patience and understanding in this trying moment in our dear country.”
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