The Nigeria Police Force has denied recent allegations made by Senator Shehu Sani at the 2024 Democracy Day Dinner on June 12, 2024, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
News About Nigeria reports that this was contained in a statement issued by Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Force Public Relations Officer, on Sunday.
Recall that Shehu Sani, a former senator representing Kaduna Central, had asked President Bola Tinubu to pardon #EndSARS protesters who are still in detention.
In October 2020, many Nigerian youths protested across the country against the excesses of the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) unit of the police.
At the peak of the protests, some state governments declared a curfew in some states to prevent a breakdown of law and order, while many protesters were arrested in cities such as Lagos, Rivers, and Ibadan.
Some of those arrested have remained in custody for various categories of offences linked to the protests.
The statement reads: “The Nigeria Police affirms that no individual is being unlawfully detained by the Nigeria Police Force or any other security agency in Nigeria due to the EndSARS protest.
“All arrested individuals have been processed according to the law, and none remain unlawfully detained. In Lagos, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu pardoned approximately 100 suspects arrested by the police during the protest.
“For emphasis, no one anywhere in Nigeria is under Police detention or being wrongly persecuted for participating in the EndSARS protest. The issues surrounding the protest have been debated, researched, and documented, and lessons have been learned. We have forgiven ourselves and moved on.”
The force urged the public to disregard this claim and remain assured of its commitment to upholding justice, the rule of law, and human rights.
The NPF also charged Nigerians to always verify the information before making public statements to avoid harm and incitement.
