The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, has warned security operatives against the usage of live bullets on Nigerians protesting against the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, unit of the Nigeria Police Force, NPF.
NBA warned that the use of live bullets on innocent and armless citizens will aggravate the already tensed atmosphere in the country.
The warning was issued by the association’s National President, Olumide Akpata at a Press Conference in Abuja.
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Akpata also disclosed that NBA would make its human and other resources available to the independent investigation panel established by police and the National Human Rights Commission to investigate the violations of human rights by the disbanded SARS.
He said: ‘Our nation has in the last couple of days witnessed a mass action by Nigerian citizens mostly the youth against the Special Anti-Robbery Squad SARS of the Nigerian police.’
‘The protests are precipitated by years of brutality and professional misconduct by operatives of this particular police unit who have for too long derailed from the core mandates of their establishment and have become threats to the same citizens that they were meant to protect in line with the general mandate of the police under the Nigerian Constitution’
‘We demand that the police service commission live up to its responsibilities by speedily looking into complaints against the police for abuse or misuse of power. This is important to ensure that the relationship between the public and the police is one of trust and confidence instead of suspicion and indifference.’
AFRICA TODAY NEWS, NEW YORK