#BlackTuesday: Presidency Appeals For Calm, Understanding After Police, Army Massacred Peaceful #EndSARS Protesters

By Edna Wande On Oct 21, 2020

Presidency has asked citizens to remain “understanding and calm” after peaceful anti-police brutality protesters were shot and killed around the country on Tuesday.

Femi Adesina, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to President Muhamamdu Buhari, made the comments in a statement on Tuesday.

Adesina stated the the implementation of the Police reforms, as demanded by protesters, was gathering pace at Federal and State levels.

He noted that as at the last count, 13 States have established the Judicial Panels of Inquiry as resolved by the National Economic Council to address justice for victims of police brutality.

They are Lagos, Kaduna, Delta, Ekiti, Ogun, Anambra, Enugu, Imo, Plateau, Edo, Nasarawa, Ondo and Akwa Ibom states.

Adesina said President Muhammadu Buhari welcomed the promptness of the actions and will support states to ensure that justice is achieved for all victims of police brutality in Nigeria.

He noted that under the chairmanship of Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, the National Economic Council (NEC) at its meeting on Thursday, October 15, 2020 resolved to establish State-level Judicial Panels of Inquiry.

The spokesman said;

Reeling out the steps he claimed have so far been taking to address the demands of the protesters.

The Presidency appeals for understanding and calm across the nation, as the implementation of the reforms gathers pace at federal and state levels.

The Presidency wishes to reiterate the full commitment of the Buhari administration to the implementation of lasting police reforms in Nigeria.

He added;

President Muhammadu Buhari welcomes the promptness of these necessary subnational actions, and reaffirms his commitment to supporting the state governments to ensure that justice is achieved for all victims of police brutality in Nigeria.

Under the Chairmanship of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the National Economic Council at its meeting on Thursday October 15, 2020 resolved to establish state-level Judicial Panels of Inquiry, to investigate allegations of Police brutality and ensure that all erring personnel are brought to justice.

He expressed,

Prior to that, the President in June 2019 signed a Bill establishing the Police Trust Fund, to mobilize additional funding for the welfare and equipping of the Nigeria Police Force. Accrual of funding into the Fund, as specified in its enabling Act, has commenced.

This comes amid demand for a nationwide live broadcast from President Buhari, as he has only addressed the uprising across the country via statements made via pre-recorded videos and tweets on his official Twitter page.

Supporting the call, Senate also appealed to the President to address Nigerians and specially have a dialogue with the protesters to resolve the issues.