100 killed during COVID-19 lockdown — Aregbesola

The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, has said 100 persons were killed across the country during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020.

He attributed the killings to frustration occasioned by job losses and the restriction of movement put in place to curb the spread of the deadly virus.

The former Osun State governor stated this at the Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, while delivering a lecture on “COVID- 19: The Economy and Security” organised by the Faculty of Arts of the institution.

He said, “By official estimates from the Federal Ministry of Information, 57 civilians, 37 policemen and six soldiers were killed all over the country. Also, 196 policemen were injured; 164 police vehicles destroyed and 134 police stations were burnt down.”

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigeria Customs Service and Nigeria Immigration Service all lost infrastructure, equipment and other valuables to attacks by hoodlums during the crisis.

“It is most regrettable that eight medium-security custodial centres in Edo, Lagos, Abia, Delta, Ondo and Ebonyi States were attacked, with 1,957 inmates set free and 31 members of staff injured.

“While the violence lasted, 269 private and corporate facilities were burnt, looted or vandalised, 243 government facilities burnt and vandalised and 81 government warehouses looted. Even in some cases, national strategic grain reserves were also looted.” (Daily Trust)