ActionAid Nigeria has called on the government of the country to set definite timelines to meet the demands of #EndSARS protesters.
This call was made at the organisation’s Board of Trustees meeting, where members reviewed the state of the nation, according to a statement.
Protests, with hashtag #EndSARS, were triggered by the alleged killing of a young man by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in Lagos State on 03 October.
#EndSARS protesters were shot by soldiers in the Lekki area of Lagos on 20 October, with at least seven people reportedly killed and many others injured.
The security operatives stormed Lekki hours after Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu imposed a curfew in the state.
‘The federal government should provide definite timelines for government’s response to youths’ demands’, ActionAid Nigeria said in the statement.
‘This can be kick started with investigations of the incident that transpired at Lekki Tollgate
‘Those who ordered the shooting, as well as the officers who fired at peaceful protesters must be brought to book openly’.
Thugs were reported to have taken advantage of the protest against police brutality and extrajudicial killings, with police accusing people ‘posing’ as protesters of looting weapons, and torching police buildings.
‘Those who sponsored hoodlums to disrupt the peaceful protests, attack their fellow citizens and destroyed properties must be identified and made to face the wrath of the law to pass a clear message that elites should desist from using young Nigerians for political gain’, the statement read.
‘We call on the federal government to ask the Central Bank to unfreeze the accounts of EndSARS promoters without delay’.
SARS, which has been disbanded, was accused of harassment, unlawful arrests, torture and killings.
One of the demands made during the protest was justice for all deceased victims of police brutality and appropriate compensations for their families.
Protesters also demanded the setting up of an independent body to oversee the investigation of all reported cases of police misconduct.
Source: ActionAid Nigeria
Photo source: The Cable
