The Federal Government, on Wednesday, paid a total sum of N289, 384, 09 million as compensation to 74 beneficiaries and victims whose rights were violated by the defunct Special Anti Robbery Squad of the Nigerian Police.
The symbolic presentation of cheques to the various beneficiaries and victims was done at the Headquarters of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), where the chairperson of the governing board of the commission, Dr Salamatu Suleiman, said a total of N431, 88, 094 million had, before now, been paid to 94 beneficiaries under the SARS panel.
She thanked those who filed petitions to the Independent Investigative Panel on Human rights violations against SARS and other units of the Nigerian Police for their belief in the human rights mechanisms of Nigeria and for diligently presenting and pursuing their cases before the panel.
The NHRC governing board chairman assures that the Commission, as an independent institution, will continue to exercise its mandate of promoting and protecting human rights in the country, using various constituted mechanisms under the NHRC Act (As amended).
Earlier in his speech, the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Chief Tony Ojukwu (SAN), said the award was only symbolic, that the victims cannot be adequately compensated compared to the level of their rights that were violated.