FG accepts all demands of #EndSARS protesters

The presidential panel on police reform has agreed to unconditionally release all those arrested during the protests against police brutality which have swept through many cities across the country in the past few days.

This was part of the five-point demand of the #EndSARS protesters presented before the Federal Government as conditions to halting the nationwide protests.

The other four requests, which have also been acceded to are 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 10 days); psychological evaluation and retaining (by an independent body) of all disbanded SARS officers before they can be redeployed; and increasing police salary so that they are adequately compensated for protecting lives and property of citizens.

Over the past few days, there have been renewed calls for the scrapping of the special anti-robbery squad (SARS) of the Nigeria Police Force over reports of brutality and extrajudicial killings.

Following the protest, Mohammed Adamu, inspector-general of police (IGP), had disbanded the SARS unit.

President Muhammadu Buhari had also issued a directive, calling for a reform of the police force.

According to a statement issued on Tuesday by Femi Adesina, presidential spokesman, a meeting convened by the IGP with stakeholders agreed to meet the demands.

Already, the IGP has set up the Special Weapons and Tactics Team to replace the disbanded police unit, according to a statement by the police force spokesman, Frank Mba.