ENDSARS: Members Of The Public Contributed To Violations – Gombe Panel Of Inquiry
BY WILLIAM ATTAH, GOMBE – Chairman of the Commission of Inquiry into human rights violations by the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in Gombe State, Justice Sa’ad Mohammed (rtd), has blamed some members of the public over some of the violations they incurred from security agents.
Justice Mohammed, who stated this while presenting the report of the Commission Governor Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State, said that it was clear that the security agencies operate within our environment, adding that members of the public contributed to the occurrence of violations.
He said the commission invited petitions and received 18 which were considered during a public hearing conducted.
Mohammed said that after deliberating on the petitions and public hearing, they came up with 13 recommendations regarding 10 members of the Nigeria Police, adding that other recommendations made were for compensation to be paid to victims ,, in addition to certain measures to be taken to prevent future violations of human rights by security agents.
The Commission chairman said; “We wish to point out that as at the time of hearing, none of the petitioners was in detention”.
In his remarks, Governor Yahaya commended members of the Commission for a job well done, adding that there is great need to have trust and confidence in one another.
Yahaya noted that despite the shortcomings of the police, they still play a vital role in keeping and maintaining peace in the society and promised to go through the report and also submit it to the Federal Government.
