By Adeola Atanda
The Nigerian Governors Forum, (NGF), has asked Inspector-General of Police Ibrahim Adamu to fish out policemen who attacked protesters across the country and prosecute them. The governors held a teleconference with the IGP on Thursday, 15 October, 2020.
“Governors were unequivocal that all police officers who participated in the abuse or actions that might have led to injury or the death of innocent citizens must be fished out and brought to book while other Nigerians who have been adversely affected by police brutality or other actions that were injurious to them or their loved ones, should be compensated,” said a communiqué read by
Kayode Fayemi, the chairman of NGF.
The governors allude that despite its excesses, the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad was effective in combating crime, especially in northern Nigeria. The governors urged the IGP, the Police Service Commission and the Nigerian Police Council – which is yet to be inaugurated – to “immediately review the remuneration and emoluments of police officers”. They also asked the IGP to find ways of funding the police “in order to incentivize and motivate police officers who have pledged themselves in service of the country.”
Fayemi, in the communiqué, further stated governors agreed public concerns exceed Police/FSARS reforms and included a demand for better governance”. He said “some state governors have already started the process of engaging protesters and urged all states to engage all stakeholders for a collectively agreed resolution”.
However, 19 governors from northern part of Nigeria met with President Muhammadu Buhari. They expressed displeasure with the disbandment of F-SARS and went on to issue a statement to that effect. Simon Lalong, governor of Plateau State, where protesters faced brutal police harassment, read the statement on behalf of his colleague-governors.
