Victims of police brutality and extra-judicial killings in Abia State have taken to the streets in protest over the non-payment of N511 million in compensation allegedly approved for them years ago.
Four Years of Waiting for Justice
The aggrieved group addressed journalists in Umuahia, revealing that the compensation was approved for 46 out of 86 petitioners who applied to the judicial panel of inquiry. This panel was established during the administration of former Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.
The inquiry was chaired by the former Chief Judge of Abia State, Justice Sunday Imo, with the former Solicitor General, Mrs Uzo Uche Ikonne, serving as Secretary. The panel sat for several months before submitting its report and recommendations to the state government in July 2021.
A Nationwide Directive Ignored
According to the victims, their plight stems from a 2020 directive by the federal government. "When Nigerians were brutalised by the police in various parts of the country, the federal government gave a directive to the states to set up panels of inquiry to ascertain the magnitude of the cases towards compensation of the victims," part of their petition read.
While states like Lagos, the FCT, Osun, Ekiti, and Rivers have since compensated their affected citizens, Abia State has failed to do the same. The victims stated that approval for the payment of the N511 million was granted by the previous administration but was never implemented before its tenure ended.
A Desperate Plea to Governor Otti
The protesters have now submitted a petition to Governor Alex Otti and the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, urgently calling for their intervention to facilitate the payment. Copies of the petition, signed by Dr Osita Nwabuko and Harrison Ikwue, were distributed to the press.
The group's Coordinator, Dr Osita Nwabuko, made a heartfelt appeal, highlighting the dire circumstances many victims now face. "Many of the Abia victims are homeless, ill or deceased. Some that died are still in the mortuary because of lack of funds," he revealed.
Despite repeated letters and appeals submitted through various government offices, including the Secretary to the State Government and the Attorney General, their compensation remains unpaid. In their petition, the victims expressed their faith in Governor Otti: "You have been our hope before you came on board as our governor, and now that you are on board, you are still our hope." They have respectfully requested an audience with the governor to personally present their case.
