Panel on post-polls violence sits amid tight security

Guardian

24 June 2011

Panel on post-polls violence sits amid tight security .

AMID tight security, the panel of inquiry into the post-election violence, headed by Sheik Ahmed Lemu, yesterday began public sitting in Kaduna.

The panel, which began its job with a public hearing at the Arewa House, had anti-bomb experts, security operatives and armed soldiers at the venue.

Also, individuals and group representatives, including members of the panel were frisked before entering the venue of the probe.

Speaking on the inauguration and public hearing, Lemu stressed that the panel was out to do justice to all the victims of the crises and not to witch-hunt anybody.

He allayed the fear of the people that the panel might be used by powerful individuals, saying that nobody, no matter how highly placed in the society, could manipulate the workings of the panel.

Lemu pointed out that the 22-member panel was divided into three groups to hasten the investigation into the violence, adding that each body would spend 10 days in their respective zones.

The three zones are located in Maiduguri, Kaduna and Akwa Ibom.