The Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), has expressed optimism that the reform package by both the federal and state authorities for the Nigeria Police would be instrumental in bringing an end to impunity in the country.
The Vice President stated this when he alongside the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyema, received an American government delegation at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The delegation included the US Assistant Secretary, Bureau for Democracy, Human Rights and Labour, Bob Destro; US Assistant Secretary, Bureau for Conflict Stabilization Operations, Denise Natali; the Counselor of the US Department of State, Thomas Ulrich Brechbuhl; and the Charge d’Affairs, US Embassy, Kathleen FitzGibbon.
He said the plans being executed were to investigate police brutality and prosecute erring police officers, create new state-based Security and Human Rights Committees, as well as providing compensation to victims of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and other police units.
He said, “The concerns around impunity are some of the concerns that informed the establishment of Judicial Panels of Inquiry across states.
Each state is now required to establish judicial inquiry that will look into cases of impunity, excessive use of force, extrajudicial killings etc., especially by law enforcement agents.”
“Aside from two representatives of Civil Society groups, these Judicial Panels will have youth representatives and a representative from the National Human Rights Commission, among others. Each State is also required to have what is called the Special Security and Human Rights Committee to ensure that law enforcement and security agencies protect the Human Rights of citizens.”
“Government is paying attention. The point we are making is that protests are a means to an end, but they cannot be the end. We are very optimistic that what we have put in place would eventually yield the best possible results for us,” Prof. Osinbajo stated.
