UN to Nigeria: Implement #EndSARS Panel’s recommendations

The United Nations has called on the Federal Government to implement the recommendation of the Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution set up to investigate issues surrounding the #EndSARS Protests of 2020.

UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Edward Kallon, said in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday, that the submission of the report of the panel was a welcome development.

“I welcome the submission to the Lagos State Governor, H.E. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, of the reports of the judicial panel on claims of brutality and shooting in the Lekki area of Lagos State, during the 2020 #EndSARS protests,” he said.

Kallon noted that the submission of the findings of the judicial panel would accelerate the process of justice and accountability.

“I urge the government to implement the recommendations of the judicial panel of inquiry to rebuild trust and start the process of healing and reconciliation,” he added.

The Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution for Victims of SARS related Abuses in Lagos State indicted the Nigerian Army for assaulting, injuring and killing unarmed helpless and defenseless protesters.

The Panel stated that 11 people were killed at the Lekki Toll Gate, four missing but presumed dead, 26 protesters received gunshot injuries or got injured while nine others were assaulted by soldiers and police.

It also revealed that 96 corpses labelled as #EndSARS were found across the state.

The panel stated that the October 20, 2020 Lekki Toll Gate protesters were assaulted by security officers without provocation or justification, while they were waving the Nigerian Flag.

The Justice Doris Okuwobi-led panel made a total of 32 recommendations, including:

*Holistic Police Reforms covering welfare, training and proper equipping of Policemen and their working environment;

*Sanctioning of the officers of the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Police Force

respectively who participated in shooting, injuring and killing of unarmed protestors at the Lekki Toll Gate on the 20 and 21st of October 2020;

*Development of more robust engagement between the Youth and the Government;

*Setting up of a Standing Committee/Tribunal to deal with cases of Violation of Human Rights by security agencies and a trust fund to settle compensation awarded by such committee/tribunal;

*A public apology to ENDSARS protesters who were killed, injured and traumatized by the Incident of the 20th of October 2020;

*The memorialization of the Lekki Toll Gate and the 20th of October going forward.

*The recognition of Hospitals and Medical Doctors who played heroic roles following the Incident of the Lekki Toll Gate on the 20th of October 2020 thereby saving lives and minimizing the impact of the injuries suffered by the victims, most of which were on a pro-bono basis;

*The Panel recommended various sums of compensation to victims of the Lekki Toll Gate Incident, which must be expeditious in order to accelerate the healing process.

*The Panel recommended that any data that may have been generated over the years on the impunity of the Police across Nigeria be studied and deployed as early warning signs (EWS) mechanism.