N’Assembly will ensure justice for victims of proscribed SARS abuses – Lawan

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, Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, has said.

In a statement issued on Monday,  Lawan also said  the perpetrators of the alleged abuses be prosecuted and sanctioned as appropriate to discourage impunity.

He said, “We will also work with the Executive to ensure that the five-point demands of the #EndSARS protesters which the government has committed itself to are fully implemented.

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“The National Assembly is fully committed to putting the necessary legislation in place for comprehensive reform of the Police to enhance their institutional integrity and efficiency.

“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.

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“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.

He also called  for a thorough investigation of every criminal act that had been  witnessed in the past few weeks with a view to bringing to justice all those elements that  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.

“I call on our patriotic youths to leave the streets as Government has heard their voices and is addressing their grievances. This is also necessary to avoid unwittingly continuing to provide covers for the criminals and fifth columnists in our midst.

“However, as regards those criminal elements unleashing terror on our cities under the guise of the protest, I urge the security agencies to forthwith but with utmost restraint, restore law and order across the country and bring the criminals to justice.

“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.”