Two Hausa pepper sellers, Awwal Musa and Musa Adamu Abati, who was allegedly shot by operatives of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) at Olomore Market in Abeokuta in February this year, have demanded N5m compensation each.
The duo made the demand while appearing before the Ogun State Judicial Panel of Investigation on police brutality sitting at Court 1, Isabo, Abeokuta, the State capital.
Awwal Musa and Musa Adamu Abati who could not speak, read or write in the English language were encouraged by the panel to present their case with the assistance of an interpreter.
The two pepper sellers had in their petition alleged that ASP Samuel Ayebo, Inspector Ojo Aderemi, and Sergeant Abayomi Egbetokun assaulted them, with one of the police officers firing shots at them on 20th February 2020 while doing their lawful businesses.
Musa in the petition was quoted to have said that he was shot twice by the SARS operatives with the first bullet hitting his thigh and the second severing one of his toes, while Adamu was hit on the side of his head.
They requested the government to pay each of them a sum of five million Naira, to offset the medical bills incurred since the incident occurred and also to get them back to business.
The petition was thereafter adjourned to 26th January 2021 for further hearings, cross-examinations as well as to hear from the respondents.