Former Senate President, Bukola Saraki has warned that despite the acceptance of the 5 of 5 demands during the EndSARS protests of October 2020, the Federal Government has done nothing to solve issues that caused the protests.
Saraki disclosed this on Wednesday in a statement titled, “We Must Never Forget #EndSARS,” remembering the events of the Lekki toll gate shooting a year ago.
He added that his thoughts and prayers are with those who lost their lives and sustained injuries in Lagos and around the country.
What he said
“It is worrying that despite the acceptance of the ” 5 of 5 Demands” nothing has really been done to resolve the issues that caused the protests in the first place.
“None of the policemen accused of torturing and extrajudicially murdering Nigerian citizens has been brought to justice, there has been no marked improvement in the funding or quality of equipment available to the Nigerian Police Force and these incidents of torture continue in many security facilities nationwide,” he said.
He warned that young Nigerians are still being held in detention facilities across the country without trial.
“It appears that the lessons that ought to be learned from the events last year have been lost,” he said, citing that the Nigerian Police Force has resorted to threats and mobilisation to prevent further expressions of dissatisfaction with the status quo.
He also urged that the carnage that followed the attacks on protesters by security agencies and non-state actors must stand as a lesson to government at all levels that they must learn to engage with the Nigerian populace in a manner that preserves and respects their constitutional rights.
“This is the only way we can honour the memory of those who gave their lives for this cause,” he said.
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Nairametrics reported that Police commands in Lagos and Osun States warned protesters not to carry out protests in remembrance of the Lekki event, with the Osun Police Force warning that it would arrest protesters.
The Lagos Police command also said they would only allow a virtual event for the occasion, while the Osun Police warned that they would not allow any form of protest.
