Nigerian authorities have been have been called upon to carryout transparent coroner inquests and autopsies on the identified ENDSARS victims and publish their identites and the circumstances surrounding their deaths.
The call is coming on the heels of a leaked government memo dated July 19, addressed to the Lagos State Ministry of Health, where it was seen that the State Government had approved over 61 million naira for the mass burial of 103 perssons identified as victims.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Amnesty International of Nigeria demanded that the Government should halt their plans to carry out a secret mass burial of ENDSARS victims, and carryout a thorough and independent investigation into the killings and bring the suspects to justice in fair trials.
The Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, Mr. Isa Sanusi called for the release of those detained as a result of their role in the ENDSARS protests, adding that victims and their families must be provided with access to justice and effective remedies, including adequate compensation.
The statement recalled that an on-the-ground investigation by the Amnestyin October 2020 confirmed that Security officials in Nigeria opened fire on thousands of peaceful protesters who were calling for an end to Police brutality and good governance, adding that it was able to establish that pro-government supporters instigated violence at many of the demonstrations.
It would be recalled that in October 2020, young people across Nigeria embarked on a nationwide movement tagged ENDSARS, urging the authorities to disband a police unit known as the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
NIM