Civil society groups and #EndSARS protesters in the country have expressed their resolve to publish the details of Nigerians who were either killed or brutalized by the men of the Special Anti Robbery Squad across the country over the years.
The list, according to the protesting youth, would feature cases of extra judicial killings, extortions, illegal arrests, and detentions of citizens.
Recall that the National Economic Council on Thursday ordered the inauguration of judicial panels of inquiry across the states, including Abuja, to receive and investigate complaints of police brutality and extra judicial killings of citizens with a view to giving justice to the victims.
The catalogue would expectedly be used as information base to help in the inquiry and compensation of victims.
Highlights of accounts of some victims of police and SARS-related killings in the county are below:
IFEOMA ABUGU, 20-year-old youth corper, who was reportedly arrested at her fiance’s residence in Lokogoma, Abuja. Ifeoma was allegedly assaulted sexually and later died in SARS custody a day after her arrest.
GODGIFT FERGUSON EKERETE, 24; TONY ORUAMA, 21, and HARRY ATARIA, 26, were said to have been arrested during a raid on July 3, 2008. They were found dead in detention that same day having been accused of engaging in armed robbery and cultism.
KOLADE JOHNSON was reportedly killed on March 31, 2019 by a SARS officer for ‘looking like a fraudster.’ It was learnt that Johnson left home to watch a Liverpool versus Tottenham Spurs match but never returned to his family.
CHIBUIKE ANAMS, 23, was said to have been felled on July 24, 2009 during a raid on a guest house in Rivers State. Following days of relentless efforts by his family members, he was presumed to have died. However, there was no official statement from the police to confirm his death.
TINA EZEKWE, 16, on May 26 was hit by a bullet when a drunk policeman allegedly opened fire to disperse a crowd after shooting a bus driver who refused him a bribe. Ezekwe died two days after she was reportedly rushed to the hospital.
CHRISTAIN ONUIGBO, 28, father of one, was reportedly shot on May 19, 2009 while parking his car in Jiwa, Abuja. He was said to have been whisked to the police station where he spent a night with his wounds before being transferred to a hospital where he was allegedly refused treatment for failure to present a police report. He passed on March 21.
AYOMIDE TAIWO, 20, on August 9 was said to be on his way home after the Eid-el-Kabir celebration in Osun State with his friend when their motorcycle was stopped by a drunk SARS official. It was learnt that after paying the bribe money, the police, who discovered that he had more money subsequently attacked him. He was in a coma for six days before succumbing to death.
ANEKE OKORIE, 39, father of four, who engaged in Okada riding, on May 15, 2009, was stopped at a checkpoint at Emene, Enugu. He allegedly died on his way to the hospital after being shot for not giving a bribe.
TIYAMIU KAZEEM, 21, a football player with Remo Stars, on February 24 was allegedly stopped by a team of SARS officials which allegedly tried to put him in custody. He fell off the SARS patrol vehicle while on motion and was ran over by a moving car.
THOMAS MMABU NEElE, 20, in November 2011 was said to have been hit by a stray bullet while having his bath at home. His family found his remains at the mortuary.
PETER CHIBUZOR OFURUM, a UNIPORT student, was said to have been killed on April 11, 2016 during a students protest against increase in school fees. The school was said to have denied him as a student despite being the president of Management Science in the school at the time of his death.
DANIEL IKEAGUCHI, 20, and his friend reported to be waiting for taxi in Rivers State when they saw some SARS officials and ran away in fear of possible arrest. They were accused of being thieves. Daniel was said to have been shot while trying to show the content of his bag. Following their arrest, Daniel reportedly died as a result of lack of medical attention.
LINDA IGWETU, would have finished the Nigerian Youth Service Corp scheme in Abuja, on July 4, 2018, but was allegedly killed by a SARS official.
BENJAMIN PETERS was claimed to have been shot by SARS operatives while on her way home with friends. When rushed to the hospital, the doctor refused to treat her for failure to present a police report, so she died.
CHUKWUEMEKA MATHEW ONOVO, 22, was alleged to have left his father’s house on July 4, 2008. There was a crossfire and he was hit by a stray bullet. When demanding of his son, the police reportedly told his father that he was an armed robber.
MUS’AB SAMMANI, a Computer Science graduate, on December 4, 2019, was alleged yo have been killed over a misunderstanding in Kano State.
These and more were said to have sparked off the #EndSARS reactions across the nation resulting in the disbandment of the SARS.
