Former Senate President, Bukola Saraki has said the government has failed to resolve issues raised by the youths during EndSARS protest in October 2020.
Saraki on Wednesday said despite sobering events of that day, none of the policemen accused of torturing and extrajudicially murdering Nigerians have been brought to justice.
The former Senate President also highlighted that incidents of torture in security facilities across the country still existed and no improvement in the funding or quality of the Nigeria Police Force.
Part of the statement read: “On the first anniversary of October 20th, 2020, like many Nigerians, I have struggled with coming to terms with the sobering events of that day.
“Thoughts and prayers to those who lost their lives, loved ones, sustained injuries, or sustained various losses at the Lekki Toll Gate and at various locations in Lagos and around the country when security agencies were deployed to clamp down on the protests and non-state actors took advantage to cause chaos and mayhem.
“It is worrying that despite the acceptance of the “5 for 5 Demands,” nothing has really been done to resolve the issues that caused the protests in the first place.
“Also none of the perpetrators of the attacks on Nigerians exercising their rights to peaceful assembly have been arrested or prosecuted, despite many of them being identified Instead, young Nigerians are still held in detention facilities across the country without trial.”
According to Saraki, it appeared that the lessons that ought to be learnt from the events last year have been lost.
He hoped that common sense prevailed and the young people who seek to hold events to mark the first anniversary of the events at the Lekki Toll Gate be allowed to peacefully gather and be protected from any forms of violence.
“Today represents an opportunity for the government to begin the police and justice sector reforms our country so badly needs. It is an opportunity I appeal to the government to take.
“This is the only way we can honour the memory of those who gave their lives for this cause,” Saraki said.
