Security forces kill more Nigerians than Coronavirus

Security forces enforcing the lockdown in parts of Nigeria have killed more people than coronavirus itself, a local rights group says.

Evidence of the killings comes from members of the public who rang their hotline or sent in videos, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) adds.

It says law enforcers have killed 18 people in Nigeria since lockdowns began on 30 March.

Coronavirus has killed 12 people, according to health ministry data.

Nigeria, which has a population of about 200 million people, has reported 407 cases of coronavirus but there are fears it could spread quickly in overcrowded parts of the country.

Nigerian security forces have a reputation for brutality.

At least 1,476 people were killed by state actors in the country over the past year, says the Council on Foreign Relations.

In its report about Nigeria’s coronavirus lockdown period, the NHRC, a government agency, said it had found “8 separate incidents of extrajudicial killings leading to 18 deaths”.

In total the group said it received more than 100 complaints across 24 of Nigeria’s 36 states – including Lagos, Ogun and Abuja. Those three parts of the country this week had their two-week lock down extended.

Other areas have set a variety of restrictions, which have seen the police and army called out to enforce them.

Nigerian security forces have not responded to the NHRC’s report.

But earlier this month, Nigeria’s police force encouraged citizens to report officers who violate rules on conduct adding “the rights of Nigerians are not infringed upon under any pretext.” (BBC)