Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Friday night apologised to youths over government’s silence on police brutality in the country.
He noted that the government has not done enough to keep Nigerians safe even from those hired to protect them.
Osinbajo’s statement came following massive protests across the southern parts of the nation against the brutality of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
Yesterday night, a massive candlelight session was held in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, over Nigerians killed by these brutal police officers.
Reacting to the development in the country, Osinbajo highlighted steps already taken by the Federal Government to fix the problem.
He further sent condolences to the families of Jimoh Isiaq, a protester killed on Sunday by the police, and all others who were killed by wayward police officers.
Read the statement issued by the VP on tweeter below;
“Dear Nigerians, I know that many of you are angry, and understandably so. We could’ve moved faster and for this we are sorry.
“I fully understand how many young people feel. Many feel that we have been too silent and have simply not done enough. These feelings of frustration are justified.
“There are far too many people who have been brutalised at the hands of the police and this is unacceptable. We must take responsibility for protecting young people, even sometimes from those who are paid to protect them.
“Over the past week, we have been following the protests, and I have had a number of discussions with key people in the administration that you deserve to be informed about. Transparency, after all, is a key tenet of government.
“We understand that you want to see action from us and I’m here to tell you that work is ongoing. I chaired a meeting of 36 state governors and the Minister of the FCT (NEC), where we resolved to set up judicial panels of inquiry so we can see justice served, and fast.
“The reason being that only state governors, by law, can set up judicial inquiries in their states. The hearings will be public.”
“To those injured, I wish a full and speedy recovery. We have proposed that each state government set up a Victims’ Support Fund, which @NigeriaGov will support. This is the least that we can do to compensate for the injustice suffered at the hands of errant officers.
“We also understand that the issues that you’re raising are bigger than just SARS. They’re deep and systemic and we’re undertaking comprehensive measures that will revamp the police by addressing issues of welfare, service conditions and training.”
Dear Nigerians, I know that many of you are angry, and understandably so. We could’ve moved faster and for this we are sorry.
— Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (@ProfOsinbajo) October 16, 2020
