SARS/Police Brutality: Establish judicial panel of inquiry in Kano – CSOs urge Ganduje

Kano Civil Society Forum on Friday urged the state government to establish a judicial panel of inquiry into alleged SARS/Police brutality of citizens in line with the directive of the federal government.

Solacebase reports that the forum an umbrella body of over 190 different Civil Society and Community Based Organizations operating in Kano State said though the state did not experience so much from the ENDSARS protests, it, however, feel that there is an imperative need to establish such panel to unravel police brutality if it exists in the state.

This was contained in a letter addressed to the governor and jointly signed by the forum President and General Secretary, Ibrahim A. Waiya and Mr Peter Hassan Tijani, respectively

‘’Although, Kano State did not experience so much from the ENDSARS protests, we, however, feel that there is an imperative need to establish such panel in Kano, for the simple reason that, Kano State is strategic and critical, which most at times serves as a pacesetter in all national issues of public concern,’’ said the statement.

Read Also:#EndSARS: Igbos apologize over violent protest in Kano

Solacebase recalls that during the #EndSARS protest in Kano on October, 20th, Tuesday, 4 persons were killed more than 15 vehicles were destroyed, several shops looted and some houses burnt.

‘’It said it is important to constitute an all-inclusive judicial panel of inquiry, as a response mechanism with specific responsibility to unravel the circumstances surrounding the alleged SARS/police brutality and abuse of power. This we believe will provide an avenue for the Nigerian citizens in Kano State to be heard.’’

The letter read: ‘’Sir, you could recall that, there was a nationwide protest by Nigerian citizens concerning the operations of the disbanded SARS, a tactical team of the Nigeria police, bordering on allegations of brutality, extrajudicial killings, harassment and intimidation as well as a violation of citizens rights. These and related issues constituted largely the reasons behind the ENDSARS peaceful demonstrations across many states of the federation, unfortunately, and eventually turned bloody. Consequently, the ugly development influenced the decision of many states Government to set up a Judicial Panel of Inquiry (JPI), as an immediate measure to calm the situation.’’

‘’Sir, some of the States that set up their panels, include: Lagos, Kaduna, Ogun, Delta, Bauchi and many more, and have already swung into actions.’’