Sanwo-Olu: We’ve set up N200m compensation fund for victims of police brutality

Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos, says the state government has set up a N200 million compensation fund for families of victims of special anti-robbery squad (SARS) killings.

The governor disclosed this while addressing #EndSARS protesters in front of the Lagos house of assembly on Tuesday.

Sanwo-Olu said the fund has been established to assist the families of those who were wrongly killed by police officers.

He said a list of victims of police brutality has been generated, adding that checks are being made to ensure no name is excluded.

“We have set up a N200 million fund for victims,” he said.

The governor further confirmed the establishment of the fund in a tweet he shared after meeting Mohammed Adamu, the inspector-general of police (IGP) in Abuja.

He said the fund will be managed by members of the public and civil society organisations.

“In Lagos, we have immediately set up a trust fund that will be managed by nominated members of the public and CSOs to compensate families that have lost loved ones to police brutality. People like the wife of Mr Okechukwu Ilo who died in tragic circumstances will not be left out,” the tweet read.

SARS officials have immediately been asked to leave the streets around the country following their disbandment and return to police headquarters for debriefing and psychological examination. pic.twitter.com/u704x1GffN

— Babajide Sanwo-Olu (@jidesanwoolu) October 13, 2020

In Lagos, we have immediately set up a trust fund that will be managed by nominated members of the public and CSOs to compensate families that have lost loved ones to police brutality. People like the wife of Mr Okechukwu Ilo who died in tragic circumstances will not be left out.

— Babajide Sanwo-Olu (@jidesanwoolu) October 13, 2020

Sanwo-Olu said a panel will be setup comprising of citizens to look at all cases of abuse by the police around the country.

He announced that in fulfilment of one of the demands made by the protesters, all those arrested during the protest have been released unconditionally.

The #EndSARS protest — which trended as number one globally on Twitter — was triggered by incessant cases of brutality.

On Sunday, the IGP disbanded SARS but despite this, protesters refused to leave the streets, saying the pronouncement is not enough.

Sanwo-Olu also met with President Muhammadu Buhari, saying steps are already in place to implement the demands of #EndSARS protesters.

The governor said he went to see Buhari to personally deliver a letter to him from aggrieved youths protesting against police brutality.

He assured the protesters that the president has heard their demands and agreed to implement them.

The federal government on Tuesday accepted all of the five-point demands of the protesters.

“As a father, it’s a real concern when you realize that you don’t really know your son that much, given what my own son had faced, what my daughter had asked me to do,” Sanwo-Olu told reporters after meeting the president.

“Indeed, it was a clarion call for me and so it speaks to how did we get here, how did we miss it and we are indeed grateful that they have been able to correct us and they have been able to show that they are indeed leaders of tomorrow. So for me, their voices have been heard, their grievances are real and we are going to begin to see a better relationship going forward.

“I can tell you and all our youths out there that Mr. President has listened, your letter is documented, it has received attention and he has assured me that all of the things that you have said there he will see how he will begin to implement them almost immediately.”