The Presidency has said the Presidential Panel on the Reform of the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) has approved the five-point demand from Nigerians, who have been protesting across the country since last week.
This was contained in a statement made available on Tuesday and signed by President Muhammadu Buhari's Special Adviser of Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina.
According to him, the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, convened a meeting with stakeholders, where he agreed to meet demands, which include halting use of force against protesters and unconditional release of arrested citizens.
A communiqué signed by the IG of Police, Mohammed Adamu and Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, Tony Ojukwu, Esq, read in part: "Following the dissolution of SARS, the Forum calls for the following immediate steps to be taken in restoring public confidence and trust in the Police: An order by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to all State Commands to halt the use of force against protesters; Unconditional release of arrested protesters and citizens; Open communication and outreach to citizens to establish trust and confidence and a roadmap for the implementation of the White Paper of the Presidential Panel on the Reform of the SARS."
It added that: "The Forum recommends the psychological evaluation, training and retraining of disbanded SARS officials prior to re-deployment."
Those who attended the meeting are: Dr Kole Shettima - MAC Arthur Foundation; Innocent Chukwuma - Ford Foundation; Jude Ilo - of OSIWA; Chris Ngwodo, SSA to President Research & Policy; Dr Fatima Waziri - Rule of Law Adviser OVP; Segun Awosanya (segalinks) - End Sars Movement; Yemi Adamolekun - Enough is Enough; Clément Nwankwo- PLAC; Rafsanjani - CISLAC; Kemi Okonyedo - PWAN; YZ - CITAD; Folarin Falana Falz; Prof Deji Adekunle - NIALS and Abdulrahman Yakubu - NHRC Secretariat.
Others are: Hilary Ogbonna- NHRC secretariat; Halilu Adamu - NHRC Secretariat; Ben Aguh - NHRC secretariat; Dr Uju Agomuoh - PRAWA and Onyinye Ndubuisi - UNDP.
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