By Olabisi Salau
Godwin Obaseki, Governor of Edo State, has said the state government would pay N190 million as compensation to victims of police brutality, as proposed by the State Judicial Panel of Enquiry.
Gov. Obaseki made this known at a meeting with Edo youths at Government House in Benin City, the state capital, on Friday
According to him, his administration had agreed to comply with the recommendations of the panel.
“I set up a panel to investigate cases of police brutality against the people. The panel has done its work and submitted its report.
“In summary, 117 petitions were received, 25 of them was struck out, while 10 were dismissed,” he said.
Obaseki explained how “the panel proposed compensation to be paid to victims totally N190 million, while the amount of judgment sum recommended to reinforced was N98 million”,
He said: “I have accepted that we will pay those who were victims, not waiting for anybody or the Federal Government.
“There should be regular promotions for the police as at when due, enforcement of welfare package, training and re-training of police officers, upward review of salaries, yearly mental evaluation and quarterly test for hard drugs.”
He also promised the people and youths present at the panel that changes would be made.
“We promised that against all odds, we will change the face of governance and this will only be possible through frequent and constant interactions”, Obaseki said.
Obaseki gave N1 million each to two victims of the EndSARS protest, Ohima Steven and Miracle Ailenokhoria, pledging to continue to pay for their treatment.
In his remarks, a member of the Judicial Panel of Inquiry, Ogbidi Eromosele, thanked the governor for ensuring that youths were part of the panel.
