End SARS report: ‘Official lie has been exposed’ – Femi Falana makes demands

Femi Falana, human rights lawyer, has asked the Lagos State Government to designate venues where aggrieved Nigerians can hold rallies in exercise of their fundamental rights to freedom of assembly and expression.

Falana made the recommendation on Tuesday following the Lagos #EndSARS panel report.

Recall that the Lagos government on October 19, 2020, as part of recommendations put forward during the #EndSARS protests, inaugurated the judicial panel to investigate petitions on police brutality in the state and Lekki toll gate Massacre.

The panel submitted its report to the state government on Monday stating that nine #EndSARS protesters were killed, while another four are still missing.

Falana, commenting on the report said it exposed “the official lie that the report of the brutal killing was a figment of the imagination of the protesters”.

He demanded that the state government hasten implementation of the report and see to it that security agents found culpable are brought to book.

Falana also asked the government to set up a Lagos state human rights committee in line with the recommendation of the panel since police brutality has failed to cease.

Part of the statement read: “A certified copy of the Report of the Panel should be forwarded to President Muhammadu Buhari in view of the recommendation that the soldiers and police personnel who engaged in the torture and reckless murder of citizens be sanctioned.

“The policemen who were killed by criminal elements during the END SARS protests should be honoured notwithstanding that their family members have been compensated by the Lagos State Government.”

He commended the witnesses and their lawyers for exposing the official cover up of human rights abuse perpetrated by the merchants of death.

Falana further called for the violent attack of unarmed protesters during peaceful rallies by police and military personnel to be completely outlawed.