The Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) commends Nigeria Youth for leading the struggle to end the activities of the notorious Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS). We are in support of #EndSARS protesters, and efforts to restructure the Nigeria Police Force, as many persons with disabilities and their families, in particular persons with hearing impairment have suffered in the hands of defunct notorious SARS operatives.
David O. Anyaele, Executive Director, Centre for Citizens with Disabilities, said in a statement that victims and survivors of SARS “notorious activities are struggling with different forms of disability ranging from physical, mental, emotional, and sensory impairment which are hindering them from participating in the society on equal bases with others.
According to the statement, “as the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Federal Government of Nigeria resolved in their recent meeting to set up judicial panels of inquiry to investigate allegations of rights violations by police personnel across the 36 States of the Federation and Abuja FCT, CCD is calling on members of the panels to take appropriate measure to thoroughly investigate the extent of the activities of the defunct SARS led to inflicting of any form of disability to their victims.
“Our observation shows that many of the victims and survivors of SARS notorious activities are struggling with different forms of disability ranging from physical, mental, emotional, and sensory impairment which are hindering them from participating in the society on equal bases with others.
“The 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended provides in section 42.2 that no citizen of Nigeria shall be subjected to any form of disability. As such any form of disability suffered by any citizen of Nigeria by reason of the activities of the defunct SARS operatives shall be made to be accounted for.
“CCD is also calling on the members of the Panel to make recommendations, where necessary that would address the rehabilitation and reinstitution needs of the victims and survivors with Disabilities and their families to ensure total healing. Once again we commend Nigeria Youths for leading this struggle to end SARS operation.”