COVID-19 Lockdown: More than 23 killed, several brutalised by security agents — Report

No fewer than 23 citizens have been killed with several others brutalised and their human rights violated by security operatives in states where the lockdown order to contain the Coronavirus pandemic was imposed by government.

The lockdown order, which was a measure to halt the spread of the deadly Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and keep Nigerians safe, has regrettably turned out to be deadly with the loss of several innocent lives, report by the CLEEN Foundation has revealed.

The Federal Government had on March 31 enforced a restriction of movement in Lagos, Ogun and the Federal Capital Territory Abuja (FCT), for an initial 14 days period to tackle the disease in the country. This was extended on April 13 for another 14 days due to the rising incidents of the pandemic. Some governors also followed suit and imposed the lockdown in their states.

But according to recent report by CLEEN Foundation and made available on Tuesday, there are 23 documented incidents of extra-judicial killing across the country. Out of this number, 12 deaths were recorded in Kaduna State. Abia State recorded five deaths, Anambra State two deaths, while Delta, Niger, Ebonyi and Katsina states recorded one death each.

Notably, 18 of the incidents have been confirmed by the National Human Rights Commission with the exception of those that occurred within the last few days.

According to the CLEEN’s report signed by its Executive Director, Mr. Benson Olugbuo, Southeast region of the country recorded the first incident on April 5, 2020 at Umuahia Road Aba. A police officer allegedly killed a petrol station attendant along the popular New Umuahia road in Obingwa Local Government Area.

The policeman, Stanley Azu, is reportedly serving under Azumini Police Division in Ukwa East LGA of Abia State. He was said to have tried stopping a vehicle that violated the lockdown order occasioned by the coronavirus outbreak, but the driver defied the instruction.

“Residents of the area said the police inspector chased the driver and reportedly fired at him. The bullet hit Chibuisi, who was in his business centre. Chibuisi was said to have been pronounced dead at Abia State Teaching Hospital where he was rushed to for urgent medical attention.

Until his death, Chibuisi was a staff of Greenmac Energy Ltd, a filling station owned by his in-law. The Commissioner of Police in the state, Ene Okon, who confirmed the incident said the officer has been arrested adding that the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) has taken over the matter.

The second death according to the report happened on April 7, 2020 at Umuneeochi LGA in Abia State.

Meanwhile, the Abia State Command of the Nigeria Police also confirmed the killing of an innocent young man identified as Ifeanyi Arunsi on Friday April 17, 2020 night in Ebem Ohafia by a Policeman.

Geoffrey Ogbonna, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the command, explained that the policeman was neither on duty nor on COVID 19 preventive assignment, but shot sporadically under the influence of alcohol until a bullet hit the deceased in the buttock.

The Abia state government has since condemned in very strong terms the unwarranted shooting of some Abians and the consequent loss of their lives. It said the breeding recklessness of some security men in the state must be nipped in the bud forthwith.

The Chief of Staff to the Governor, Dr. A. Agbazuere, reassured all Abians that anybody who takes the life of an Abian must definitely face justice. He informed that the soldier who killed an Abian at Umuokereke Ngwa has been dismissed from the army and is in prison awaiting final Justice for murder.

CLEEN reports further revealed that there has been extortions and brutality in some states by the Army and Police. It said there were pockets of human rights violations by the Army ranging from flogging of citizens and extorting money from commercial bus drivers at different locations in Owerri particularly at control post.

There was an earlier directive given by the Ebonyi State Governor to security agents to shoot at sight anyone that tries to run away from the state’s isolation center.

Some civil society groups in the state have already issued Public statements condemning the directive.  There was a video showing members of the State lockdown enforcement team in Ebonyi who approached villagers that gathered for their village meeting brutalized and looted their property.

“In Enugu, residents have lamented police brutality, extortion amid lockdown, Extortion of citizens was recorded in Nnobi, Idemili Anambra State, victims bailed themselves with the sum of one thousand naira each, the report read.

Illegal arrest and detention of citizens by security operatives was also recorded in the region, the report added. It said two observers of CLEEN Foundation intervened in a case at Enugu State on Easter Monday 13th April, 2020.

“They were detained at the station and paid a total of twenty-six thousand naira for bail and instructed to report to the station today 13th April, 2020 with Ms Nzube.”

In Akwa Ibom state, a health professional and staff of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital on essential duty was brutally assaulted by a police officer. In Lagos state.

CLEEN said its observers reported instances where officers of the Nigerian Army subjected some persons to untoward physical exercise for flouting the stay-at-home order. Certain areas in the Federal Capital Territory witnessed intimidation by security personnel as the officials resorted to the use of force to send people back to their houses along the Airport road.

Furthermore, in Ekiti state, our observers reported acts of brutality by NSCDC officials and officials of the state taskforces involved in rights violations. In Ebonyi State, the Governor allegedly directed security agents to shoot at sight anyone that tries to run away from the State isolation center.

Extortion of citizens by security operatives was another major highlight of the reports. CLEEN observers in the Ifako-Ijaiye axis of Lagos state confirms the activities of police in extortion of citizens who were asked to pay between N50,000 to N100,000 for violation of restriction order. In Nnobi, Idemili Anambra State, some police personnel extorted monies from citizens who violated the stay at home order.

On compliance to the lockdown, the report revealed that the stay-at-home-order has been partially observed by the citizens with movement restriction obeyed to an extent.

“In Imo State the sit at home order is active to some extent, however, people have been freely moving around for their daily businesses.

“In Enugu State, it was something else at the poultry market in Nsukka, as many people boycotted the stay at home order from the government to shop for Easter chicken. Abia residents also flouted the stay at home order. (COVID-19 Lockdown: Aba residents flout stay-at-home order.”

The reports found further that majority of the security personnel did not use force at all according to 57% of observers to enforce the lockdown. Also, 34% reported the use of force by few of the security personnel while 6% and 3% noted that all/most of the security personnel used force while on Covid-19 enforcement duty.