News Editor
The Guild of Public Affairs Analysts of Nigeria (GPAAN), welcomes the long awaited report of the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Restitution for Victims of SARS Related Abuses and Other Matters released yesterday.
The panel was constituted last year following the massive national and international outcry that followed the deployment of Nigeria’s security forces made up of police and army units at the Lekki Toll Gate on the 20th of October 2020. The outcome of that security operation resulted in the attack on peaceful, flag waving Nigerians who had massed at the toll gate as part of the nationwide protest against police brutality dubbed the #endsars.
In the process of clearing the toll gate forcefully, of the peaceful protesters, the military and police unleashed anarchy and mayhem under the cover of darkness as they fired live bullets into the crowd, killing and maiming scores of unarmed Nigerians. National and international outrage over the attack and the denial of both federal and state authorities and the army over their culpability in the whole affair, led to the setting up of the judicial panel of inquiry to probe the incident.
Following the release of the Judicial Panel Report, The Guild of Public Affairs Analysts of Nigeria GPAAN makes the following statements:
- Commends the members of the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Restitution for Victims of SARS Related Abuses and Other Matters for the courage and objectivity shown in the course of their work.
- Commends the Judicial Panel for aknowledging a generally well known and well established truth that actions bordering on a massacre did take place at the toll gate on the 20th of October 2021 in which live bullets were used on peaceful protesters by the army and police.
- Commends the Judicial Panel for establishing that a tri-partite web of intrigues and collaboration between the Lagos state government, federal government, and the Lekki Concession Company led to the event that unfolded on the 20th of Oct 2020.
- Commends the Judicial Panel for establishing a nexus between the event of 20th of October and the unfortunate and condemnable destruction of public and private assets on the 21st of October 2021.
- Commends the Lagos state government for seemingly allowing the Judicial Panel to work without undue interference, even though the government is not free of some level of indictments by the Judicial Panel.
RECOMMENDATIONS
- That all those involved in the sordid and criminal events of the 20th October 2021 should be punished in accordance with the provisions of the law. This would include army, police, government personnel as well as personnel of the Lekki Concession Company. Corporate sanctions, if possible, should also be considered. This should hopefully serve as a statement against impunity in our country.
- That there should be adequate compensation for all victims of #endsars protests at the hands of state security operatives.
- That the Lekki Toll Gate be designated a national monument in celebration of the heroism of the Nigerian youths who, in an unprecedented and patriotic manner stood up to be counted on behalf of their country.
- That the commercialisation of the Lekki Toll Gate which was the motivation for the massacre by the army and police be stopped permanently forthwith as a testimony to the fact that profit must never attract a higher premium than human life.
Achike Chude
Spokesman
Guild of Public Affairs Analysts of Nigeria
(GPAAN)
