The lockdown ordered by the federal and various state governments to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus has claimed no fewer that 21 lives across the country.
The figure shows that death resulting from “high-handedness” by security agents have claimed more lives than the global pandemic, as at yesterday, COVID-19 had killed 11 persons in Nigeria.
In the last 48 hours, two persons were reportedly shot death at Nkpor, Idemili North Local Government Area, near Onitsha, Anambra and Sapele in Delta State.
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This is in addition to the list of 18 fatalities released by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
In Anambra, a witness said trouble started at Ezego street, Nkpor, when some boys returning from football training in a nearby primary school field were accosted by policemen drinking in a nearby restaurant.
The source said the boys resisted attempt to bundle them into their vehicle, leading to exchange of words before the police allegedly opened fire killing one of the youths instantly while the second who sustained gun shots wound died while he was being rushed to the hospital.
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However, Police Public Relations Officer, Anambra State Command, Haruna Muhammed, said security agents acted in self-defence.
“It was an unprovoked attack on police patrol team with substance suspected to be acid by some miscreants. They snatched the rifle of the policeman after pouring acid on him which prompted the other policeman to use force to retrieve the rifle. Investigation has commenced while efforts are ongoing to restore sanity in the area” he said.
In Delta, a protest by a group of women following the extension of the lockdown by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa led to one of the women lying critically ill in hospital following gun wounds from a policeman who tried to disperse the crowd.
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A witness said the victim, who was part of the protest, “was shot at a close range on both legs by a trigger-happy policeman despatched to restore normalcy in the area.”
According to the SUN, the policeman was said to have immediately taken to his heels, leaving his service rifle behind in a bid to avoid mob attack.
Delta State Police Commissioner, Hafiz Inuwa, said police were on the trail of the suspect in order to intensify investigations into the matter.
Meanwhile, Tony Ojukwu, NHRC executive secretary, has said majority of the victims were killed during attempts to enforce the lockdown and similar regulations.
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Apart from loss of lives, the lockdown has recorded various human rights abuses mostly by policemen, the NHRC said in its report.
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 right to freedom of movement, and unlawful arrests, 19 incidents of seizure of properties and 13 incidents of extortion.
“There were eight 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 two deaths arising from two incidents while Delta, Niger, Ebonyi and Katsina States recorded one 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 seven 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 one death.”
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.
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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.
(SUN)
(PHOTO: File)