Amnesty International has called on the Nigerian government to address the human rights violations by the police to effectively end years of atrocities that emboldened impunity which triggered the nationwide #EndSARS protests four years ago.
A statement signed on Sunday by Michael Christian, Media and Communications Assistant said the organisation had continued to receive – almost daily – reports of human rights violations by the police across Nigeria, including unlawful detention, extortion, torture, sexual violence and, in some cases, extrajudicial execution.
“The Nigerian authorities still have the opportunity to reform the police and make it an institution with zero tolerance for human rights violations.
“The opportunity must not be allowed to slip away by the failure to hold the police to account for human rights violations,” said Isa Sanusi, Director of Amnesty International Nigeria.
“Gradually, we are returning to the horrific pre-endsars days when the police behave as if they have the carte blanche to violate human rights,” he noted.
The organization stated that according to its investigation four years after #EndSARS, only two states – Ekiti and Osun and FCT-Abuja are publicly known to have paid full compensation to the survivors and relatives of the victims of police brutality, adding that Lagos and Nasarawa are known to have made partial payments.
It also added that seven states like Bornu, Jigawa, Kano, Kebbi, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara are yet to set up any form of judicial panel.
“The failure of the #EndSARS investigative panels to deliver justice is unacceptable and reveals the authorities’ lack of commitment to ensure justice for victims of police brutality across Nigeria.
“Extrajudicial execution by the police has continued since the #EndSARS protests”
Recall that on 3 July 2021, during the Yoruba nation rally at Ojota, Lagos state, Jumoke Oyeleke (25) met her untimely death. Jumoke is a salesgirl who was displaying her drinks before she was hit by a bullet shot by a police officer, Tajudeen Bakare.
Also, on 11 September 2021, Mosurat Ojuade, an 18-year-old fashion designer, was shot and killed by a police officer, Sgt. Samuel Phillips.
On 22 January 2022, Paul Durowaiye was shot dead by a police officer over a fight for sachet water. It was said that Paul picked up a pure water belonging to the police officer, and the fight erupted, which later led to his demise. On 4 June 2022, one Oliver was shot dead along Jalingo-Zing Road by a police sergeant, Haruna Idi, over a minor argument. On December 7, 2022, Gafaru Buraimoh was shot and killed by Inspector Imeh Johnson in Ajah, Lagos State.
On 25 December 2022, Bolanle Raheem, a female lawyer, was returning from church with her family when they encountered the police and she was shot at close range by a police officer, Drambi Vandi, in Lagos. On 15 February 2023, a soldier in mufti was stabbed to death by a police officer due to an altercation with some policemen at the Odogunyan axis of Ikorodu, Lagos state.
On 5 April 2023, Onyeka Ibe was shot to death for refusing to pay a N100 bribe to police officers on stop-and-search duty.
Amnesty International explained that since the leak of a government memo dated 19 July 2023, which was addressed to the Lagos State Ministry of Health indicating that the state government had approved more than N61 million Naira for the mass burial of 103 persons identified as victims of the #EndSARS protests in October 2020, the identities of the 103 victims are yet to be disclosed, while those suspected to be responsible for the killings are yet to be brought to justice in fair trials.
“The Nigerian authorities’ promises of addressing human rights violations by the police must be fulfilled to meet the country’s obligations under Nigerian and International law. All atrocities before and after #EndSARS protests must be investigated and suspected perpetrators brought to justice,” said Isa Sanusi.
