Lawan: N’assembly will ensure victims of SARS brutality get justice

Senate President Ahmad Lawan says the national assembly will ensure justice for victims of the now-disbanded special anti-robbery squad (SARS) unit of the Nigeria Police.

In a statement on Monday, Lawan said the federal lawmakers will work with the executive to ensure that the demands of those protesting police brutality are met.

Some citizens took to the streets across the country for 12 days, campaigning against police brutality and demanding police reforms.

The protesters also demanded that all former SARS officials who have killed citizens extra-judicially be prosecuted.

The senate president said the national assembly is also committed to enacting laws that would reform the police.

“I want to seize this opportunity to reassure our youths that the national assembly will collaborate with the executive to ensure justice for victims of misconduct and rights abuses by personnel of the disbanded special anti-robbery squad of the Nigeria Police,” Lawan said.

“In the same vein, to discourage impunity, we will insist that the perpetrators of the alleged abuses be prosecuted and sanctioned as appropriate.

“As we seek a path out of this regrettable crisis, my heart goes out to the victims of the reprehensible violence and criminality witnessed in the last few days in many parts of the country.

“I send my condolences to the families of our security and law enforcement agents who have made the Supreme sacrifices in the course of their service to their fatherland.

“I also call for a thorough investigation of every criminal act that we have witnessed in the past few weeks with a view to bringing to justice all those elements who have so callously destroyed public and private property.

“Now that the mindless carnage has distorted the purpose of the protests, I urge the youths to join hands with the authorities in bringing an urgent cessation to the violence.”

The senate president said the country could not afford more violence.

“While still grappling with the havoc of COVID-19, the country can ill afford yet another epidemic that has now appeared in the form of the lawlessness that is going on,” Lawan said.

“I thank all Nigerian leaders and other well-meaning Nigerians for their interventions towards restoring peace and order after the unfortunate degeneration of the protest into chaos and brigandage in many parts of the country.”