The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) says there is no #EndSARS protester in any of its detention facilities.
In a statement on Sunday, Muyiwa Adejobi, force
spokesperson, said “nobody is being wrongly persecuted for participating in the
EndSARS protest”.
In October 2020, many Nigerian youths protested in many
parts of the country against the excesses of the now-disbanded special
anti-robbery squad (SARS) unit of the police.
At the peak of the protests, some state governments declared
a curfew to prevent a breakdown of law and order, while many protesters were
arrested in cities such as Lagos, Rivers, and Ibadan.
Speaking at a dinner organised to mark 2024 Democracy Day on
June 12, Shehu Sani, a former senator representing Kaduna central, asked
President Bola Tinubu to pardon #EndSARS protesters who are still in detention.
“Mr. President, there are some people who are still in
detention as a result of EndSars’ protest. They were young people who were
protesting for justice, freedom, and democracy,” Sani said at the event
attended by Tinubu.
Responding to Shehu’s comment, Adejobi said, “all arrested
individuals have been processed according to the law, and none remain
unlawfully detained”.
The force spokesperson said Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of
Lagos, had pardoned over 100 suspects arrested by the police during the
#EndSARS protest.
“The Nigeria Police Force categorically denies the recent
allegations made by Senator Shehu Sani at the 2024 Democracy Day Dinner on June
12, 2024, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, where the former Senator falsely
claimed that some young people have been detained since the 2020 EndSARS
protest,” the statement reads.
“For emphasis, no one anywhere in Nigeria is under police
detention or being wrongly persecuted for participating in the EndSARS protest.
“The issues surrounding the protest have been debated,
researched, and documented, and lessons have been learnt. We have forgiven
ourselves and moved on.
“We urge the public
to disregard this claim and remain assured of our commitment to upholding
justice, the rule of law, and human rights.
“We encourage verifying information before making public
statements to avoid harm and incitement.”
DARE WILLIAMS STILL
IN PRISON
However, the claim by Adejobi that no #EndSARS protester is
in detention or being prosecuted for participating in the protest may not be
entirely true.
TheCable reports that Dare Williams, a student of the
Federal College of Education, Akoka, in Lagos, is currently at the Kirikiri
medium prison for participating in the protest.
Williams was said to have been arrested on December 22,
2020, for allegedly posting a video showing a police officer covered in blood
on his WhatsApp TV platform.
However, Williams is being tried for an alleged conspiracy
to commit robbery.
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com