A probe panel instituted by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to investigate the activities of the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, has asked the Federal Government to dismiss 25 officers of the squad for their roles in the violation of rights of some Nigerian citizens.
The panel headed by a retired Supreme Court Justice, Suleiman Galadima on Tuesday in Abuja asked the Federal Government to dismiss the indicted officers for their roles in the extra-judicial killings that led to nationwide protest two years ago by aggrieved Nigerians.
Besides the dismissal recommendation, the panel also asked that 28 others be put on criminal prosecution, as well as 15 for various forms of disciplinary actions and 4 others for reduction in their ranks for engaging in abuse of statutory powers.
After two years of extensive investigations, the panel asked the government to compensate financially, some families whose members were unlawfully killed for no just cause during their encounter with SARS.
Fact sheets presented by the panel include payment of compensation to 39 petitioners for extra-judicial killings and 7 others for enforced disappearance.
Other recommendations of the panel are that nine Nigerians be compensated for unlawful arrest and detention, 30 for torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, 6 for threat to life, six for confiscation of property and three others for abuse of office.
Speaking at the presentation of the report, Executive Secretary, National Human Rights Commission NHRC, Mr Anthony Ojukwu said that the Federal Government would implement the recommendations of the panel to the letter.
Ojukwu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, thanked the panel members for working along the terms of reference of the government.
He said that apart from implementing the EndSARS report, other units of the Nigerian police would be held accountable for their roles in the abuses of fundamental rights of the Nigerian citizens.
