Mr Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, a Human rights lawyer and also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, has joined millions of Nigerian in the condemnation of brutality allotted on protesters of EndSars by the Nigerian police force.
Mr Ebun, while speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Thursday, narrated is plight as he recalled how he was hung upside down for participating in a protest against the annulment of the 1993 presidential election.
“The Police has not changed in terms of interfacing with protesters. I was part of a similar protest in 1993 when we were demanding for the actualisation of June 12,” he said.
“When we got to the Ojota Bridge, we were rounded up and taken to Area F where they had a place called ‘German Cell’.
“I was hung from the head down with a rope, beaten up with late Chima Ubani. It is just by the grace of God that I didn’t die.”
The Lawyer further urged the Federal Government to address the endsars protesters in the Nation, according to him “there was genuine needs to address their concerns”
“Government should engage them in terms of genuine attempts at addressing the issues,” the lawyer said.
“The first thing is to set up a Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The people have become victims of police brutality.”
While commending the protesters for the orderly manner they have been conducting themselves, the legal practitioner said they were demanding for the nation’s restructuring.
He, therefore, called on the Nigeria Police and other security agencies to respect the rights and values of the protesting youths.
“This current protest is just about the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). #EndSARS protest is translating into a demand for restructuring.
“#EndSARS protest is translating into some kind of vote of no confidence in the responses of government.
“The universities have been closed for months. EndSARS protest is also a declaration of demand for the reopening of the educational sector. It addresses blackout, lack of electricity, virtually all issues in our national life,” he added.
The EndSars Protest started as a campaign as Netizens used the Hashtag #Endsars to demand for Nigeria’s Government to scrap and end the deployment of Nigerian Police Force special Anti-Robbery Unit
The police authorities have since disbanded the unit and announced the Special Weapons and Tactics unit as its replacement.
However, the protests have continued with many demanding for more reforms.
(C) Control TV 2020.
