The National Association of Seadogs (Pyrates Confraternity) has demanded the full implementation of reports of the various Judicial Panels on Inquiry set up across the country to probe brutality by the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and other security agencies.
It also backed police reforms noting that the issue of reforms must be revisited with vigour while members of the Police Force must be retrained, better funded and made more accountable to the citizens.
The NAS Capoon, Mr Abiola Owoaje, in a statement titled: “#EndSARS Anniversary: Justice must not be delayed” to commemorate the massive protests that rocked the country in 2020, restated its belief that the protests were lawful in accordance with the fundamental rights of Nigerians as enshrined in the constitution.
NAS while commending “the untiring efforts of all the civil society organisations that have diligently monitored the activities of the Judicial Panels of Inquiry, expressed “total disappointment at how shoddily a lot of the states’ judicial panels of inquiry have gone about their sworn duties.”
“This is clearly unacceptable, and only goes to underscore the general contempt with which people in authority at different levels hold Nigerians. It reinforces the widely held opinion that the government did not seize the many learning opportunities from the events of the past year,” Owoaje said.
“We insist on the full implementation of all recommendations, and in cases where applicable, internal discipline and prosecution of culpable officers. Any agent of the state found to have committed acts of illegality must be identified and sanctioned appropriately.
“We expect all citizens who have been victims of brutality from either the police or other law enforcement agents to receive adequate monetary compensation.”
NAS commended states that have set up the Victims Compensation Funds and implore the government to take advantage of the opportunity presented by the #EndSARs protests to serve justice to all those that suffered one form of brutality or the other.
“The #EndSARS protests presented a glorious opportunity for fundamental reforms of the police and the judicial system. Failure to pursue this course with a patriotic sense of duty and responsibility will further entrench the rule of the jungle which has largely characterized the relationship between law enforcement agents and the citizens that they are paid to protect. The government must understand that justice needs to be served and timely too. Justice must not be delayed.”