#ENDSARS: Ex-IGP Arase Faults Panel Report Over Silence On Killing Of Police Operatives
A former Inspector General of Police, IGP Solomon Arase has faulted the recently released #EndSars report by the panel set up by the state government over the panel’s silence on matters bothering Police officers that were attacked and killed by the mob.
Arase, at an event in Lagos organised by the Naija Police & U team expressed disappointment with the report as it cared less about the Police predicament.
“I was not happy with the EndSARS panel report. We had a retired DIG in that panel, so I expected that he should have also called for statistics, to know how many policemen were killed, how many stations were burnt or vandalised and how many vehicles were destroyed.
“While we are thinking about making restitution to members of the public, what of the policemen who died. Who really cares? That is my grouse with the report of the Judicial Panels.
“I believe they should have taken a second look at the policemen and stations that are victims of the EndSARS tragedy. We all are human beings, and have a right to life as enshrined in the Constitution,” the former police boss added.
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Arase while speaking on the topic, ‘Our Police In Challenging Times: Who Really Cares’ revealed statistics of how the police were affected by the EndSARS fiasco.
He said, “Between November and October 2021, 120 police officers paid the supreme sacrifice in the discharge of their statutory mandate in relation to the enhancement of the community peace and security, while 200 others sustained varying degrees of injuries.
“Similarly, between 8th and 30th October 2020, a total of 134 police stations were burnt and vandalized, while a total of 164 police vehicles were destroyed and burnt.”
Arase further urged government authorities to address the welfare of the policemen, most especially to the rank-and-file to ensure a better police force.
“In spite of the inherent hostile environment and sundry challenges, the Nigeria Police has remained steadfast to its responsibility of guaranteeing the safety of the lives and property of the citizens even at the risk of their own lives.
“It is true Nigerians get pissed off by some of their alleged accesses of the officers at the rank-and-file level, but if we can get those groups well taken care of, we’ll discover that our law enforcement policies would be better driven and managed,” he said.
