The Judicial Panel of inquiry set up by the Bayelsa State government to probe cases of Police brutalities on Monday awarded a total sum of fifty-five million naira against the Nigeria Police and other security agencies as compensation for families of persons killed extra-judicially.
Reacting to the ruling and recommendations by the Justice Young Ogola led panel, some family members of the victims, expressed happiness over the development but said no amount of money can compensate for the loss of their loved ones.
After five years, Daniel Kokorifa perhaps has a reason to smile. Kokorifa has been awarded the sum of fifteen million Naira by the Panel of Inquiry set up by Governor Douye Diri, as compensation for the extra-judicial killing of his seventeen year old son by a policeman.
In the same hearing the panel headed by Justice Young Ogola, Anti-oil theft outfit Operations Delta Safe was also ordered to pay fifteen million Naira to the people of Agudama Ekpetiama community for the killing of one Bolozimo Tolugha.
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In subsequent rulings, the Nigeria Police was directed to pay separate sums of twelve million and thirteen Million Naira to families of two young men killed extra-judicially by the police during a protest staged by Niger Delta University workers at Ammassoma.
While delivering his judgement, Justice Ogola however noted that the police did not make presentations and conduct cross-examinations, thereby making allegations by litigants to go unchallenged.
(Editor: Ena Agbanoma)
