Police brutality

Over the years, Nigerians have suffered various forms of human rights abuses from security agencies particularly from personnel of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF). There have been agitations of various degrees for the government to address the menace which did not produce meaningful result thereby exacerbating the plight of the youths who have been the prime victims. In October, 2020 Nigerian youths took to the streets to protest against unaddressed human rights violations by security agencies, demanding the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) unit of the NPF (EndSARS). On the 20th of October, 2020, there were allegations of mass shootings of armless protesters by Nigerian Army officers at Lekki Tollgate. Sequel to this, the Federal Government (FG) was urged to set up inquiry into the EndSARS violence. However, there has been the contention as to who between the FG and States, is competent to set up a Panel of Inquiry (PI) into the EndSARS protest. Also, what is the utility of commission of inquiry in addressing the debacle? This paper through doctrinal methodology, interrogates these issues. It discusses factors that should be considered in setting up the PIs; militate against the effective implementation of the recommendation (s) of the Inquiries. It argues that; though under the Tribunal of Inquiry Act, 1966, States are the competent authority to set up PI, there are laws enabling the FG to set up inquiry on the issue hence, attention should be focused on how inquiry can be used to address the quagmire rather competence. The paper makes vital recommendations on how to mitigate the challenges that may confront the effectiveness of the inquiry as well as implementation of the reports