The global human rights advocates group, Amnesty International, has disclosed that many victims, including those who testified at the judicial panels set up by state governments to address cases of police brutality and human rights violations are yet to get justice since 2020.
The #EndSARS slogan calls for the disbanding of the Nigerian police with abuse on Nigerian citizens. Which happened on 20 October 2020, security operatives were said to have opened fire on the peaceful protesters at the Lekki tollgate, Lagos State.
According to Punch, “The rights body stated that this was despite resolutions made by panels and promises made by the government to compensate the victims.
In a report to track the effectiveness of the Anti-Torture Act of 2017, Amnesty said, “Many victims and survivors including those who testified at the #EndSars judicial panels are yet to receive the justice they deserved, despite the conclusion of the work of panels and government’s promise to implement the recommendations.”
The Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, Osai Ojigho, said the failure of the government to enforce the act was further empowering the perpetrators of torture.
“It is worrisome, that the Anti-Torture Act is yet to find its footing in Nigeria as the pervasive use of torture shows, enacting a law that criminalises torture, whilst turning a blind eye on acts of torture empowers the perpetrators while silencing the victims. It appears the Anti-Torture Act exists only on paper,” he said.
He further said that “the 2020 #EndSARS demonstration was a wake-up call for the government to stop torture and ensure that victims received justice.
The victims were arrested in different location few days after the EndSARS protest, one among them has been detained.
According to reports, “Ismail Muftao is the only one detained in Kirikiri maximum prison while three others are in medium prison. They were arrested two days after the #EndSARS massacre at different locations. Sodiq Sulaimon and Yahaya Mustapha were arrested at the ijora. Ismail muftao was arrested in Ikorodu in his residence by some All Progressives Congress thugs.
“He was beaten and macheted, he was detained without treatment and access to family and lawyers. Ismail also said a Supol Yemi tortured him and wrote a statement on his behalf.
“Daniel Joyibo was arrested at Wilmot Point Road, Victoria Island 106104, Lagos road, on his way to the harbour point where he works as a gardener. They all haven’t been to court since December 17, 2021, until today June 24, 2022, whereby the case was postponed to September 30.
He said further enquiries with court officials revealed that they were given dates after December 17, last year but the prison allegedly refused to bring them to court due to orders from above. The reason for the long adjournment was a result of the vacation of the judiciary’s yearly vacation which commences July 25 till September 16.”
