The governor of Edo state Godwin Obaseki will pay 190 million comoensation to victims of police maltreatment in the state after recommendation by judicial panel of inquiry set up in the state.
The governor disclosed this on Friday in a meeting with youths from the 18 local government areas of the state at the Government House.
The police malhandling ranges from brutality, extrajudicial killing and other forms of human rights abuses that culminated into the last year’s Endsars protest.
He said, “I set up a panel to investigate cases of police brutality against the people. The panel has done its work and submitted its report.
“In summary, 117 petitions were received, 25 of them were struck out while 10 were dismissed. The panel recommended compensation to be paid to victims totalling N190m, while the amount of judgment sum recommended for enforcement was N98m. I have accepted that we will pay those who were victims; we are not waiting for anybody, not even the Federal Government,”
Also Obaseki called on improving welfare of the police and favourable working conditions for effective policing devoid of the problems encountered.
“There should be a regular promotion for policemen when it’s due, enforcement of welfare package, training and re-training of police officers, upward review of salaries, yearly mental evaluation and quarterly tests for hard drugs.”
