By Great Maduawulechukwu
Delta State Government has started payment of compensation to victims of EndSars as recommended by the Judicial Panel of Inquiry set up by the state government, just as a Warri based Niger Delta Activist, Comrade Israel Joe, commended Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for making his promise to implement the White paper report a reality.
Comrade Israel Joe, a member of the Delta State Human Rights Protection Committee, gave this revelation and commendation in a statement made available to The Mandate.
Comrade Israel had in a statement issued 25th January, 2022, threatened to resign his membership of the Delta State Human Rights Protection Committee if the State Government fails to implement the panel of inquiry report.
In what seem like a quick response to his call for immediate action, the Delta State Government on Monday, February 7, 2022, commence payment of compensation to victims as directed by a statement issued by the Office of the Secretary to state Government.
According to a statement my Comrade Israel, “On the 25th of January, I had issued a Press Statement calling on the Delta State Government to pay compensations to those victim of #EndSARS as recommended by the Judicial Panel. In my press release, I stated the pressure from victims as the reason which informed such decision.”
“I had declared my intention to resign my membership from the Delta State Human Rights Protection Committee headed by the governor if compensation was not paid as planned. I’m impress with the actions of the Delta State government as victims receive cheque payment today Monday 7th February from the office of the Secretary to the State Government’s (SSG) office.”
“This is the best way to go and I want to use this medium to thank His Excellency, the governor of Delta State for responding to this timely call. Really, #EndSARS advocates won the battle. I also want to use this medium to respond to the news making rounds that some #EndSARS protesters are still under detention in some areas of the country. Family members and friends of those victims in detention should reach us as soon as possible,” the end of the statement.
