#ENDSARS: Imo people shun panel, only two petitions received  

The Imo State Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Police Brutality and Related Extra Judicial Killings has frowned at the poor turn out of petitions by the people of the state who have suffered brutality in the hands of the police.

Chairman of the commission, Justice Florence Duruoha-Igwe, who disclosed that only two petitions were received by the panel, lamented that victims were not coming forward with petitions to address their problems with the police and security agencies.

She said, “I’m surprised that the bar is empty despite the publicity given to the sitting.

“We have only two petitions which is very poor. We need more petitions. Thereis need to also assure you that your security is guaranteed.

“If you do not utilize the opportunity set up by government to ventilate your anger, you won’t be helping matters.

“I don’t know why Imo State citizens don’t take things like this serious. I seriously hope that they will come and report their matters”.

On the media report that Imo has highest number of petitions in similar panel in Abuja, Justice Duruoha-Igwe said, “It doesn’t make sense that Imo people should be going to Abuja to file petitions on police brutality when we have similar panel with equal judicial powers”.

She therefore urged other victims of SARS abuse to come forward with their petitions.

According to her, the panel is independent of the government and will ensure that individuals with valid complaints of human rights violations will receive justice.

“We hope that aggrieved citizens of our state of our state will avail themselves this opportunity to ventilate their grievances.