Lockdown: NHRC says security agents killed more Nigerians than COVID-19

- NHRC has said that 18 Nigerians were killed by security agents during the 14 days COVID-19 lockdown

- The coronavirus deaths recorded in Nigeria so far are 11

- Tony Ojukwu, the NHRC executive secretary, made this known on Wednesday, April 15

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Wednesday, April 15, said that Nigeria’s security agencies have killed 18 citizens since the lockdown regulations on coronavirus pandemic were enforced.

The Cable reports that the NHRC executive secretary, Tony Ojukwu, said the majority of the victims were killed during attempts to enforce the coronavirus lockdown and similar regulations.

Legit.ng gathered that the federal and state governments had locked down various parts of the country to curb the spread of COVID-19 which has so far killed 11 persons in Nigeria.

According to the report, the lockdown has come with various human rights abuses mostly by policemen.

The commission said in addition to the reported extrajudicial killings, the security agencies have allegedly carried out 33 incidents of torture, 27 incidents of violation of the right to freedom of movement, and unlawful arrests, 19 incidents of seizure of properties and 13 incidents of extortion.

“There were 8 documented incidents of extra-judicial killing leading to 18 deaths. Out of this number, 12 deaths were recorded in Kaduna state. Abia state also recorded 2 deaths arising from 2 incidents; while Delta, Niger, Ebonyi and the Katsina states recorded 1 death each.

“The report further shows that out of the 18 deaths, the Nigeria correctional service was responsible for 8 deaths while the Nigeria Police Force was responsible for 7 deaths. The Nigeria Army, on the other hand, was responsible for 2 deaths while the Ebonyi state Task Force on COVID-19, Afikpo South LGA was responsible for 1 death,” the report read.

Ojukwu said the fatalities speak volumes of the protocol and rules of engagement for Nigeria’s law enforcement agencies and their efficiency level to deal with citizens.

“It’s a sheer display of impunity and reckless disregard for human life in law enforcement by security personnel,” he added.

He also said while the NHRC will ensure justice for victims of human rights abuse, it has developed a mobile application to monitor and document such violations.

Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that amid intensified efforts on the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, President Muhammadu Buhari ordered that 4,000 COVID-19 tests should be conducted daily.

The director-general of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Chikwe Ihekweazu, made this known during the presidential task force meeting on COVID-19 on Wednesday, April 14.

Ihekweazu said the president mandated the NCDC to increase testing in Lagos to 2,000; FCT, 1,000 and the rest of Nigeria to 1,000 per day.

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Source: Legit.ng