The Bayelsa State Panel of Inquiry on Police Brutality and other related matters has awarded a total sum of N36 million to victims and deceased families of both police and soldiers brutality in the state.
In the two judgments delivered at its sitting on Monday in Yenagoa, the Justice Young Ogola headed panel awarded the costs as compensation to victims and deceased families for unlawful destruction of property in Toru-Ndoro community in Ekeremor Local Government Area and shooting of peaceful protesters at Amassoma community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area in 2018.
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According to one of the victims, Mr. Agorowei Tukuwei whose house was razed during the incident about three years ago, soldiers had invaded Toru-Ndoro community in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State in search of a suspected notorious militant identified as Karowei.
Unable to apprehend the suspect who was later arrested and killed, the soldiers reportedly resorted to the destruction of houses and other property in the area.
Mr Tukuwei took the case to the Bayelsa State Panel of Inquiry on Police Brutality and other related matters to seek justice.
After its hearing on the matter, the panel led by Justice Young Ogola ruled that the property of the petitioner was unlawfully destroyed by the soldiers and recommended a cost of N22 million as compensation to the satisfaction of the complaint and his counsel, Mr. Richman Gbugu.
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