Osibanjo reveals what reforming Police will do to Nigeria

Osibanjo on Friday revealed what reforming Police will do to Nigeria.

OnyxNews Nigeria reports quoting NAN that the Vice President of Nigeria, Yemi Osinbanjo said the plan of both the federal and state governments on reforming the police would be a game-changer that will ensure end of impunity.

The plans will include investigating any case of police brutality and also compensating the victims of the dissolved Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, and other police units.

This online news platform understands that in a statement released in Abuja on Friday by Laolu Akande, the spokesperson to Vice president Osinbajo, said the vice president made this vow when he received American government delegations at the Presidential Villa on Thursday.

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The delegation comprised the US Assistant Secretary, Bureau for Democracy, Human Rights and Labour, Bob Destro, the Counselor of the US Department of State, Thomas Brechbuhl, US Assistant Secretary, Bureau for Conflict Stabilization Operations, Denise Natali.

Also in attendance in the meeting are the Charge d’Affairs, US Embassy, Kathleen FitzGibbon, and Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama.

The Vice President pointed out that atleast 13 states, including Lagos, have established Judicial Panels “to seek justice and to compensate those whose rights have been breached.”

He said the President has already supported the decisions of National Economic Council, NEC.

While reacting to the US government’s concerns on impunity issues in the country, Osinbajo noted that the efforts were part of the government’s commitment to extensively implementing police reform.

He also said that the Judicial Panels of Inquiry established nationwide would further ensure that the police and other security agencies protect the citizens’ human rights.

“The concerns around impunity are some of the concerns that informed the establishment of Judicial Panels of Inquiry across states. Each state is now required to establish judicial inquiry that will look into cases of impunity, excessive use of force, extrajudicial killings, especially by law enforcement agents.

“Aside from two representatives of Civil Society groups, these Judicial Panels will have youth representatives and a representative from the National Human Rights Commission, among others.

“Each State is also required to have what is called the Special Security and Human Rights Committee to ensure that law enforcement and security agencies protect the Human Rights of citizens.”

“Government is paying attention; the point we are making is that protests are a means to an end, but they cannot be the end; we are very optimistic that what we have put in place would eventually yield the best possible results for us,” Osibanjo added.