A rights group, ActionAid Nigeria, has demanded a concrete investigation into the growing cases of human rights violations during the lockdown imposed to curb the spread of Coronavirus pandemic.
The group is an affiliate member of the ActionAid International Federation working in solidarity with people living in poverty and exclusion to achieve social justice, gender equality, and poverty eradication.
Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari had declared two weeks restriction of a movement twice in the high-risk states since Nigeria recorded its index case in February.
As at the time of filing this report, 981 persons have contracted the disease in twenty states and FCT with 31 deaths recorded.
POLITICS NIGERIA had reported how security operatives across Lagos, Ogun and Federal Capital Territory, Abuja; harass, extort and brutalise citizens while enforcing the stay-at-home directive.
Meanwhile, a recent report, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) stated that security agents have killed more people than the coronavirus in the last two weeks.
While the disease has so far killed 11 persons in Nigeria, according to data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), security operatives have caused the death of 18 people, the NHRC said in its report published on April 14.
Also, in its reaction to Human Rights Violations in Nigeria, ActionAid said it has followed closely the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria since February 2020 and the responses of the Federal Government to curtail the further spread of the virus and protect Nigerians.
“Regrettably, the enforcement measure has been taken by some unpatriotic staff and officers within the Nigerian security agencies to perpetuate severe human rights abuses on some Nigerians.
“These abuses include physical assault, torture, illegal seizure, extortions and incidences of sexual and gender-based violence. Furthermore, there have been cases of outright destruction of property by security agents, thus inflicting hardship and pains on the vulnerable citizens, especially women and youths,” the statement issued by Lola Ayanda, the group’s Communications Coordinator, read.
ActionAid noted that some of the abuses have resulted in deaths.
” According to reports, such brutalities by security operatives in places like Abia, Anambra, Delta, Kaduna, Niger, Ebonyi and Katsina states have led to an estimated 18 deaths. These unacceptable incidents are attributed to the undesired work of overzealous security agents in enforcing the lockdown.”
While making recommendations, the group stated that the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic requires a wider and multi-dimensional perspective and the need to ensure that women, children and the most vulnerable in the society are protected during the lockdown.
It demanded that adequate provision of food, water and other palliatives during the period of lockdown and ensure that the provisions reach the most vulnerable people in different localities within the informal sector, especially women, youths and People with Disabilities (PwD).
“In collaboration with the National Human Rights Commission, set up a committee to investigate the numerous human rights violations being reported across the country, and bring the culprits to book.
“Put an effective monitoring and tracking team in place to oversee the activities of the security personnel during the period of lockdown, with the objective to enforce strict compliance and accountability of their mandates,” Mrs Ayanda added.
