Shuaib Jawondo, a resident of Ilorin, has narrated to the judicial panel of inquiry on #EndSARS protest in Kwara State that he was detained for seventy-three days by men of the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
In his narration, Jowondo who was one of the petitioners, appearing before the justice Garba-led panel, was arrested in Ilorin two years ago by the dreaded squad over an alleged illegal possession of firearm before being transferred to Abuja where he spent seventy three days in detention in clear violation of his fundamental human rights.
He advanced that men of the defunct tactical unit did not only detained and tortured him, but also seized his vehicle which, he said, has not been released to him till date.
While having its first public hearing on Monday, Jawondo told the panel that his life has been under constant threats by some unknown persons because of the complaints he submitted against the force.
“The way they treated us in Abuja, I don’t think I’m safe,” Jawondo said
“They arrested me in Ilorin because of politics. We suffered a lot. They checked my fingerprints, they saw nothing that I carried a gun, why would I carry guns in my life?”
They collected my vehicle, they have not released it to me. And they are telling me that if I should go to any courts or lawyers, they are going to kill me. Since then, I was quiet because I believe in God. it is only God that can kill. I’m old enough, I’m ready to die. As I am here before you, I know they are going to trace me.
This, he avvered, also led to the withdrawal of his counsel from the hearing.
“My lawyer was the one that helped me to write the petition, but he cannot come here to explain everything because I have evidence to prove to you that my lawyer sent a voice message that some officers are threatening him not to appear. I can show it to you, that is why I am afraid. But if nothing should come out of it here, I’m ready to die. I have suffered enough, my wife, children and family all suffered.”
Another petitioner, Ganiyu Ishola, who was arrested in 2012, told the panel how he was illegally detained for eighty-nine days.
According to him, the illegal detention has worsened his health status that he had to undergo a surgery to correct the deformation.
“The deterioration of my health is as a result of their action after I was illegally incarcerated for eighty-nine days of my life. My health is worsening. I just finished a surgery a month ago due to a broken spine because of beating. My lawyer would soon join me.” he announced.
Meanwhile, the state police command’s counsel, DSP Adekunle Iwaloye, said the command has not been able to respond to some of the petition because of administrative bureaucracy, stating that the officer mentioned in the petition, Peter Alabi, died some years ago.
Iwaloye while responding to the allegation raised by Mr Jawondo urged the chairman of the panel, Babatunde Garba, to ensure the alleged threat to his life is duly investigated, stating that the allegation cannot sweep under the carpet.
“The allegation that a counsel is being threatened should be looked into. I am making an application that it should form part of the proceeding. Respectfully, we will forward our application to this sitting regarding the allegation.”
Most of the cases mentioned before the panel at the Monday sitting were adjourned for further hearing and consideration as proper hearing of the complaints begins on Wednesday
AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Governor of Kwara State, had earlier named a 10-member judicial panel of inquiry, headed by retired justice Babatunde Garba, to look into issues of brutality, human rights abuses and extrajudicial killings by the Police in the state.
This came after the recommendation of the National Economic Council, directing states to investigate such complaints and ensure social justice following the #EndSARS protest that grounded the country for weeks.
SARS was a unit of the Nigerian police under the Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department charged to arrest, detain and prosecute people involved in an armed robbery.
The unit, which was dissolved on October 11, 2020, following widespread protests from Nigerians was notorious for crass human right violations including extortion, torture, framing and blackmail.