Nigeria’s Inspector General of Police IGP, Mohammed Adamu, on Thursday warned police personnel against the violation of the fundamental human rights of Nigerians in enforcing the restriction of movements imposed by federal and state governments to curb the spread of COVID-19.
Adamu said this in a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO Mr. Frank Mba, warning that all police officers deployed to enforce the orders on the restriction of movements must be professional, humane and show utmost respect for the citizenry.
Recall that there have been reports of alleged maltreatment of people suspected to be violating the restriction orders by the police and other security agents, with various video clips of same trending on the social media.
The statement release in Abuja quoted the police chief as saying that persons on essential duties, duly exempted from the restriction orders, should be accorded unfettered access to their places of duties.
While ordering Assistant Inspectors General of Police, AIGs, and Commissioners of Police, CPs, to ensure robust anti-crime patrols around vulnerable targets such as markets, shops and medical facilities across the nation, the statement added, “The Inspector-General of Police, M.A Adamu, has cautioned officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force, currently deployed for the enforcement of the lockdown and social restriction orders to ensure that the rights of Nigerians are not infringed upon under any pretext.
“Also, persons on essential duties, duly exempted from the restriction orders, should be accorded due courtesies and unfettered access to and fro their places of duty.
“The IG notes that the global community is now in extra-ordinary times, with the lock-down taking its tolls on every component of our national life. Therefore, all police officers deployed in the enforcement of these restriction orders must be professional, humane and tactful and must show utmost respect to the citizenry.
“The IG has equally charged zonal Assistant Inspectors General of Police, AIGs, across the nation to ensure adequate supervision of personnel under their watch, as well as due compliance with the standard operating procedure guiding this special task.
“The AIGs and CPs are also to ensure robust anti-crime patrols and surveillance around vulnerable targets such as medical facilities, shops, and markets, residential areas, financial institutions and Automated Teller Machines, ATM, points, amongst others so that criminals do not take undue advantage of the current COVID-19 challenge to perpetrate crimes against the citizenry.”
