The Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Rivers State chapter, has decried their exclusion from the judicial panel of inquiry probing the disbanded police Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) brutalities on citizens.
The chairman, JONAPWD, Rivers State, Kie Obomanu said that non inclusion of their members in the panel is a clear sign of discrimination and it negates the spirit of unity of community efforts in bringing justice to persons with disability, for a lot of atrocity committed by the disbanded SARS.
He also said that SARS operation actually brought untold hardship to their families and the society at large.
“We decries the non inclusion of members of physically disabled community in the panel of the state on SARS panel, inaugurated by the River’s state governor, Barr. Nyesom Wike. The panel was actually formed without the inclusion of persons with disabilities. It is quite discriminating and unacceptable” he stated.
Mr Obomanu who spoke to our reporter, demanded compensation for persons with disabilities who were victims of SARS brutality.
He, also condemned the alleged marginalisation of its members in the Federal Government special public work scheme in Rivers State.
“We are expressing our displeasure on the marginalisation of persons with disability in the selection of 774 special public work scheme in Rivers State. The Federal Government actually directed that 5% of the total slot be allocated to each chapter in each state. This should be reserved for persons with disabilities. All concerned should please Itactually backed by the National Disability Act of 2018”, he further maintained.
