The Federal Government has assured the International Community that the key demands made by the ENDSARS protesters, will be fully implemented to bring about reforms within the governance system in Nigeria.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, told the Diplomatic Corps on Tuesday in Abuja that adequate steps have been taken to assuage the feelings of the protesters with the dissolution of the dreaded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), the police unit notorious for extra-judicial killings and rights violations of Nigerians, which triggered the mass protests.
He also told the foreign diplomats that the disbandment of SARS was the first step and many others that will be taken by the Government of President Muhammadu Buhari to attend to the far-reaching reforms demanded by the protesters.
He, however, warned that some elements with ulterior motives have hijacked the protests across Nigeria to cause chaos and destabilize the country as he asked the protesters to end the protests as the Government has become responsive to the demands of the youths.
The youths have in the last 14 days thronged the streets of major cities in the country to demand an end to the brutality and rights violations of the now-disbanded SARS but the dissolution of SARS and its replacement with the Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT) did not assuage the yearnings of the protesters, who made other demands for far-reaching reforms within the governance system in the country.
The protests, however, turned bloody in the last five days as hoodlums attacked the protesters leading to deaths, arson, looting, and destruction of property in various cities especially in the nation’s capital, Abuja, and the commercial capital, Lagos, including a jailbreak in Edo state on Monday, October 19.
The Government, therefore, has warned that it will not fold its hands and watch a group of people with ulterior motives hijack the ENDSARS protests across the country to destabilize the Government and cause anarchy.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, who was at Tuesday’s briefing, told members of the Diplomatic Corps that in the last couple of days, arsonists and those with sinister motives have infiltrated the peaceful protests attacking, killing, and destroying peoples property, blocking roads and causing mayhem.
He said that despite the fact that the government has been responsible and responsive to the genuine demands of the ENDSARS protesters, some subversive elements have hijacked the movement and exploiting it to make “unreasonable demands including calling for the end of the President Muhammadu Buhari government that was democratically elected.”
He said the attack on the Governor of Osun State, Gboyega Oyetola, the burning and looting of shops in Lagos and Abuja, and the prison break in Benin, Edo State, have now become disturbing issues to the Government.
He said: “no responsible government will fold its hands and allow the country to go into anarchy” adding that “the government owes Nigerians a responsibility to protect their lives and property.”
Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Zubeiru Dada were among those who briefed the packed Rotunda Conference Hall of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Read also: This is why the young protesters in Nigeria are so angry – Bloomberg
FACT SHEET
FG’S RESPONSE TO
#ENDSARS MOVEMENT’S DEMANDS
DEMANDSOF #ENDSARS MOVEMENT:
1. Immediate release of all arrested protesters.
2. Justice for all deceased victims of police brutality and appropriate compensation for their families.
3. Setting up an independent body to oversee the investigation and prosecution of all reports of police
misconduct within 10 days.
4. In line with the new Police Act, psychological evaluation and retraining (to be confirmed by an
independent body) of all disbanded SARS officers before they can be redeployed.
5. Increase police salary so that they are adequately compensated for protecting the lives and property of
citizens.
FG’S RESPONSE:
1. On 11th October, 2020, the IGP dissolved the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) across the 36 State
Police Commands and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
2. On Oct 12, President Muhammadu Buhari addressed the nation, stating: “The disbanding of SARS is only
the first step in our commitment to extensive police reforms in order to ensure that the primary duty of
the police and other law enforcement agencies remain the protection of lives and livelihood of our
people. We will also ensure that all those responsible for the misconduct or wrongful acts are brought to
justice.
3. On 13th Oct. 2020, the IGP ordered all defunct SARS personnel to report at the Force Headquarters,
Abuja, for debriefing as well as a psychological and medical examination. The officers are expected to
undergo this process as a prelude to further training and reorientation before being redeployed into
mainstream policing duties. The medical examination will be carried out by the new Police Counseling
and Support Unit (PCSU).
4. On 13th Oct. 2020, the presidential panel on the reform of SARS accepted the five-point demand of the
#EndSARS protesters.
5. On 15th Oct 2020, the National Economic Council (NEC) directed the immediate establishment of State-
based Judicial Panels of Inquiry across the country to receive and investigate complaints of police
brutality or related extra-judicial killings, with a view to delivering justice for all victims of the dissolved
SARS and other police units. The panel will Include representatives of Youths, Students, Civil Society
Organizations and would be chaired by a respected retired State High Court Judge. The panels have six
months to complete its assignment
6. Other decisions by NEC:
(a) State Governors and the FCT Minister should take charge of Interface and contact with the protesters in
their respective domains.
(b) State Governors should immediately establish State-based Special Security and Human Rights
Committees to be chaired by the Governors in their States, and to supervise the newly-formed police
tactical units and all other security agencies located in the States. This will ensure the protection of
citizens’ human rights. Members will also include Representatives of Youths and Civil Society, as well as
the head of police tactical units in each of the States.
(c) Establishment, by the Special Committee on Security and Human Rights, of a Human Rights Public
Complaints Team of between 2 to 3 persons to receive complaints on an ongoing basis. That team would
be established by the Special Committee on Security and Human Rights.
(d) State Governors to immediately establish a Victims Fund to enable the payment of monetary
compensation to deserving victims.
