Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, has said he is totally in support of the ongoing protest against police brutality exemplified by the hashtags #EndSARS and #EndSWAT across Nigeria.
He however stressed that his administration would not condone acts that infringed on the fundamental rights of citizens in the state as he addressed protesters who blocked the Government House entrance last Saturday to press home their demands.
Diri joined the placards waving youths that were chanting slogans against police brutality noting that as a firm advocate against all forms of police brutality, he moved motions as a federal legislator against extra-judicial killings and illegal detentions in the state.
“In 2016, I moved a motion as member of the House of Representatives against extra-judicial killings in Bayelsa.
“Also, in 2018, I moved another motion in the House for the release of one Collins Opumie from Southern Ijaw that was arrested by the DSS and detained in an underground cell for many years until it came to my knowledge. He was eventually released after that motion.
“So, I’m 100 percent in support of you. In a democracy, power belongs to the people. Power belongs to you the youths. You have every right to protest and nobody can stop you from protesting,” he told the cheering crowd.
He commended the protesters for their peaceful conduct, promised to address the demands within his powers and channel others to the appropriate quarters at the federal level and marched with them to the state police headquarters where they were received by the Commissioner of Police, Mike Okoli.
At the police headquarters, Governor Diri directed the state Commissioner of Police to immediately release a youth that was allegedly arrested during the protest, saying citizens had an inalienable right to peaceful protest.
On his part, the Commissioner of Police, Mike Okoli thanked the youths for conducting themselves in a peaceful manner and urged them to maintain the tempo.
Okoli reassured that the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) remained disbanded as announced by the Inspector General of Police and promised that any officer caught infringing on the fundamental human rights of Nigerian youths would be dealt with according to the law.
Earlier on behalf of the protesters, one Mathew Ayibakuro called on the governor to set up a judicial panel of inquiry to look into cases of police brutality in the state with representatives of the youths and civil society organisations.
Ayibakuro also called for the establishment of a Bayelsa State security and human rights committee, a victim compensation fund, the reform and adequate funding of the police among other demands.
