Police brutality: Lalong approves judicial panel, denies reports on #EndSARS agitation

• Northern Governors did not advocate return of scrapped squad — Gov

GOVERNOR of Plateau State, Simon Bako Lalong, has approved the appointment of members of the Judicial Panel of Inquiry to investigate complaints of police brutality and related extra judicial killings in Plateau State.

According to a statement by Dr. Makut Simon Macham, the Director of Press & Public Affairs to Lalong, the decision was taken with a view to delivering justice for all victims of the dissolved Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and other police units.

The statement said that the move is in line with the recommendation of the National Economic Council (NEC) for the establishment of State-based Judicial Panels of Inquiry by governors.

It noted that the purpose of setting up the panels is to hear complaints and ensure accountability in the operations of police units in their states.

According to the statement, the panel is to be headed by a retired Judge of the Plateau State High Court, Justice Philomena Lot.

Other members are: CP. Garba Patrick (Rtd); Ezekiel Dauda Daschen (Youth Representative), Rauta Dakok (Rep. of Attorney General’s Office); and Kiyempia Mafuya (Rep. of Human Rights Commission).

Explaining the purpose of the panel, the statement said the members are to receive and investigate complaints of police brutality or related extra-judicial killings; evaluate evidence and draw conclusions on validity of complaints; as well as recommend compensation and other remedial measures.

The governor challenged them to be thorough, diligent and fair to all those that will appear before them in order to ensure that justice is served to all parties without any bias.

The committee is expected to carry out its assignment within six months and submit its report.

The governor also cleared the air on his remarks during an interview with journalists at the Presidential Villa Abuja, where he was quoted to have said that Northern Governors want the return of the scrapped Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

He said, “There is no way the Northern Governors will call for the resurrection of an already scrapped SARS as approved by the President and announced by Inspector General of Police.”

According to Lalong, what he simply conveyed in the interaction with State House Correspondents “was the need for deeper and holistic reform of the entire policing architecture in the country, stressing the fact that despite the condemnable atrocities by some members of the dissolved SARS, there are some among them that are good and performed their duties diligently, and as such there should not be blanket condemnation.”

Lalong reiterated his support for the agitation of a holistic reform of the policing architecture which has commenced with the scrapping of SARS, adding that he would continue to advocate further reforms such as the rapid implementation of community policing.