The Presidential Panel on Police Reforms has approved the five-point demands of #ENDSARS protesters which include halting the use of force against protesters and unconditional release of arrested citizens. 

The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu and the National Human Rights Commission, organized a multi-stakeholders' meeting which includes leaders and representatives of civil society organizations in Nigeria, activists from the entertainment industry, and EndSars movement and development partners. 

This was disclosed in a statement released by the Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari, on Tuesday, October 13, 2020.

Read Also: #ENDSARS: SOLDIERS ASSAULT UNARMED PROTESTERS IN ABUJA

The Ministry of Police Affairs and Police Service Commission were also present at the meeting and affirmed that the five-point demands of the protesters and the ENDSARS movement are genuine concerns and will be addressed by the Government.

Following the dissolution of SARS on Sunday by the IGP, the #ENDSARS protesters refused to back down until visible police reforms are implemented.  

Using the #5FOR5, protesters demanded five things from the authorities which includes: 

Immediate release of all arrested protesters

Justice for all deceased victims of police brutality and appropriate compensation for their families

Setting up an independent body to oversee the investigation and prosecution of all reports of Police misconduct (within 10days)

In line with police act, psychological evaluation and retaining (to be confirmed by an independent body) of all disbanded SARS officers before they can be redeployed

Increase Police salary so that they are adequately compensated for protecting lives and property of citizens.

During the Presidential Panel on the Reform of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) held today, the IGP approved all five demands. 

Below is an excerpt from the communiqué of Stakeholders’ Meeting on the Implementation of the five-point demands:

 “Following the dissolution of SARS, the Forum calls for the following immediate steps to be taken in restoring public confidence and trust in the Police: An order by the Inspector General of Police to all State Commands to halt the use of force against protesters; Unconditional release of arrested protesters and citizens; Open communication and outreach to citizens to establish trust and confidence and a roadmap for the implementation of the White Paper of the Presidential Panel on the Reform of the SARS.

“The Forum welcomed the proposal to set up an Independent Investigation Panel to look into the violations of human rights by the defunct SARS and other segments of the Nigerian Police. The Forum agrees to the setting up of this Independent Panel by the National Human Rights Commission within the next one week. An open call for Memoranda from members of the public whose rights have been violated by the defunct SARS and other segments of the Police will be released by the Commission within one week.

“The Forum recommends the psychological evaluation, training and retraining of disbanded SARS officials prior to re-deployment. The Forum resolves to set up the following Technical Sub-Committees to design an implementation roadmap and work plan for the implementation of the White Paper: Training, Capacity and Re-orientation; Logistics: Infrastructure, Communications and Technology; Arrest, Detention, and Investigations; Regulations, Oversight and Accountability and Financing and Partnerships.’’

The communiqué stated that sub-Committees will be supported by the National Human Rights Commission and other civil society organisations.

Those who attended the meeting are: Dr Kole Shettima- MAC Arthur Foundation; Innocent Chukwuma – Ford Foundation; Jude Ilo- of OSIWA; Segun Awosanya(segalinks) – End Sars Movement; Yemi Adamolekun- Enough is Enough; Clément Nwankwo- PLAC; Rafsanjani- CISLAC; Kemi Okonyedo- PWAN; YZ – CITAD; Folarin Falana Falz; Prof Deji Adekunle –NIALS; Chris Ngwodo, SSA to President Research & Policy; Dr Fatima Waziri – Rule of Law Adviser OVP and Abdulrahman Yakubu – NHRC Secretariat.

Others are: Hilary Ogbonna- NHRC secretariat; Halilu Adamu – NHRC Secretariat; Ben Aguh – NHRC secretariat; Dr Uju Agomuoh – PRAWA and Onyinye Ndubuisi – UNDP.