The Presidential Panel on Police reforms has swung into action as it okayed the #5for5 demands of the #EndSARS protesters.
In a tweet by Bashir Ahmad, the personal assistant on new media to President Muhammadu Buhari, it was stated that the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu has convened a meeting with Stakeholders following directives by President Buhari on the dissolution of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS.
Bashir said the IGP during the meeting agreed to meet the demands of #EndSARS protesters which include halting the use of force against protesters and unconditional release of arrested protesters.
It was gathered that the Presidential panel has welcomed the dissolution of the SARS as announced by the IGP, it also reaffirmed the constitutional rights of Nigerians to peaceful assembly and protest. The panel noted that the five-point demands of the protesters and the ENDSARS movement are genuine concerns which would be addressed by the government.
According to the panel, the reform proposals for the Nigerian Police Force will be based on Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and existing legislations such as the Nigeria Police Act, 2020, the Nigeria Police Trust Fund Act, 2019, the administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, the Anti-Torture Act, 2017 and the National Human Rights Commission Act, 2010 among others.
The panel asked the IGP to issue an order to all State Commands to halt the use of force against protesters as it also welcomed the proposal to set up an independent Investigation Panel to look into the violations of human rights by the defunt SARS and other segments of the Nigerian Police Force.
