EndSARS Protest: Investigate Destruction Of Public, Private Property, Lawan Tells Buhari, Govs

President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has asked President Muhammadu Buhari and State Governors to investigate the wanton destruction of public and private property and infrastructure by hoodlums who took advantage of the EndSARS protest to unleash havoc across the country.

Lawan, in a statement he personally signed on Monday, described the wanton destruction as a criminal and callous act.

He said, “I call for a thorough investigation of every criminal act that we have witnessed in the past few weeks with a view to bringing to justice all those elements who have so callously destroyed public and private property.

“In spite of the unfortunate hijack of the protests against police brutality by hoodlums to unleash horrifying violence, arson, looting and wanton destruction of public and private property on the country, we will ensure that government fulfills the commitment it has made to the well-meaning agitators for police reform and good governance.”

The Senate President assured the youths that the National Assembly will collaborate with the Executive to ensure justice for victims of misconduct and rights abuses by personnel of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigeria Police.

He added, “In the same vein, to discourage impunity, we will insist that the perpetrators of the alleged abuses be prosecuted and sanctioned as appropriate.”

He stated that the National Assembly will also with the Executive to ensure that the five-point demands of the #EndSARS protesters which, he noted the government had committed itself to are fully implemented.

Lawan affirmed the commitment of the National Assembly to putting necessary legislation in place for a comprehensive reform of the Police to enhance their institutional integrity and efficiency.

He expressed his deep sympathy to the victims of the reprehensible violence and criminality witnessed in the last few days in many parts of the country.

“I send my condolences to the families of our security and law enforcement agents who have made the supreme sacrifices in the course of their service to their fatherland.

“Now that the mindless carnage has distorted the purpose of the protests, I urge the youths to join hands with the authorities in bringing an urgent cessation to the violence.

“I call on our patriotic youths to leave the streets as Government has heard their voices and is addressing their grievances. This is also necessary to avoid unwittingly continuing to provide covers for the criminals and fifth columnists in our midst,” Lawan said.

The Senate President urged the security agencies to restore law and order across the country and bring the criminals to justice.

This, he, however, added should be done with the utmost restraint.

He commended all Nigerian leaders and other well-meaning Nigerians for their interventions towards restoring peace and order after the unfortunate degeneration of the protest into chaos and brigandage in many parts of the country.

“While still grappling with the havoc of COVID-19, the country can ill afford yet another epidemic that has now appeared in the form of the lawlessness that is going on,” he noted.