- A vigilante has narrated how he was shot at by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad shot at him directly
- Agbodemu Ishola said the bullet did not penetrate his body because he was ‘fortified’ by his father
- Ishola also accused SARS of unlawful arrests and detention, extortion as well as cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment
A 50-year-old vigilante, Agbodemu Ishola, on Wednesday, November 14, told the Presidential Panel on Special Anti-robbery Squad (SARS) Reform that some members of SARS directly shot at him.
The complainant made the allegation at a public hearing on alleged human rights violation by SARS.
He, however, said that the bullet did not penetrate his body because he was ‘fortified’ by his father.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the week-long public hearing began at the Ikeja High Court on Tuesday.
It is chaired by the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Mr Tony Ojukwu.
The complainant, who resides at No. 1 Jones St., Apapa Road, Ebute Meta in Lagos, also accused SARS of unlawful arrests and detention, extortion as well as cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.
“On March 3, 2017, at 5.00 p. m., I heard a gunshot and saw people running helter-skelter. I saw men with guns on mufti, they came with a van without number plate.
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“I got out and saw that the men had raided some of the residents. I tried to approach them with my Vigilance Identity Card but was shot by the men.
“The gunshot did not penetrate into my body because I was fortified by my father.
“I am a native of Osun, no gun shot can penetrate into my body, ” he told the panel.
The complainant said that the SARS members removed their mufti when they were about to leave.
”And I saw SARS logo on them,” he said.
He added that said he was unlawfully detained and tortured by SARS, and is currently receiving medical attention at Lagos State Teaching Hospital.
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The defence counsel, Mr S. Idachaba, objected to the claims of the complainant, saying that there was no case of gunshot in the medical report presented by him.
After 15 minutes break, the chairman of the panel ruled that the case be put on hold in order to give room for more evidence.
The public hearing will continue on Thursday, November 15.
NAN reports that other members of the panel include Mr Tijani Muhammed (Representative of Police Service Commission), David Shagba (Public Complaints Commission), Rtd Hashimu Argungu, Mrs Iyabode Ogunseye (Nigeria Bar Association), Chino Obiagwu (SAN – (Civil Society), Abdulraham Yakubu (NHRC) and Prof. Mauazu Abubakar, (University of Maiduguri).
NAN also reports that the panel has received 36 complaints in South West Zone in the public hearing on alleged human rights violation by SARS.
Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the Nigeria Police said they are giving Nigerians a new special anti-robbery squad (SARS) that will not violate human rights.
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Police spokesman Moshood Jimoh said that henceforth citizens will see a squad that meets the standard demanded by the government.
Also, vice president, Yemi Osinbajo, recently ordered the re-organisation of SARS following incessant complaints from Nigerians about rights violations by policemen attached to the unit.
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Source: Legit.ng
