President Muhammadu Buhari has said that he will await the steps taken by Lagos State, before the Federal Government takes action on the report of the state judicial panel of enquiry, set up to probe the 2020 #EndSARS protests.
The Lagos State panel had submitted its report on police brutality; including the Lekki Toll Gate shooting, to the Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Monday.
The panel had, in its findings, said that security operatives “killed unarmed protesters,” and also listed recommendations, including ensuring justice for victims and bringing security operatives found culpable to justice.
Speaking on Thursday at a meeting with the United States’ Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, in Abuja, Buhari said that the Federal Government will take up the report after Lagos has concluded work on it.
The President also said that other state governments will have to take steps on the reports of their panels, before the Federal Government acts on the recommendations.
Buhari said, “So many state governments are involved, and have given different terms of reference to the probe panels,” according to a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media, Femi Adesina.
The President further added, “We at the Federal have to wait for the steps taken by the states, and we have to allow the system to work. We can’t impose ideas on them. The Federal Government has to wait for the reaction of the states.”
