impact of the Covid-19 pandemic is one that cannot be forgotten in a hurry. We are witnessing an outbreak that despite effort by global researchers in getting a cure has not yielded an outright result. The impact is felt globally, but for most African countries and states, there has been an increase in the number of reported cases, raising fears especially among Nigerians considering the poor response of government to cushion the situation, such that if drastic measures are not taken, can cause serious devastations that may take a very long time to recover.
The situation of a state like Nigeria is peculiar, as they are faced with, aside the Covid-19 issue, Other issues like, herdsmen attacks, non-payment of Salaries by the government, dismissal of staff (30 health workers in Benue amongst others) communal clashes and most especially extortion of citizens by security agencies in states. These issues have drawn our attention as a Network that has always spoken for the people, to see to it that the government responds to them appropriately to reduce any impact that may follow.
The issues mentioned above require immediate attention, first is the congestion of the Correctional Centres in the states. Before the outbreak of the Covid-19, the condition of Correctional Centers in Nigeria was already deplorable, and overcrowded, which in the advent of COVID 19 poses severe threat to the health and wellbeing of the inmates and officers working at these centers. The situation is getting worse as more persons are being raided, detained daily coupled with the fact that some states are yet to establish courts to handle emergency cases during this time leading to an increase to the already alarming number of persons in these centres.
The sacking of 30 health workers in the Benue state by the government at this crucial time of the fight against Covid-19 is inconsiderate, untimely and the situation surrounding their sack can be considered as abuse of human rights. The decision, which is at large insensitive, should be reversed instead of promises not yielding fruits and the health workers redeployed to their various health centers and positions.
There have still been constant attacks by Herdsmen still date leading to overcrowding of already existing camps and increasing the already deplorable situation in the states. The situation has made people unable to return to their places of abroad or farms for fear of attacks making citizens live from hand to mouth since they cannot go about their businesses as usual. The situation is growing worse with communal clashes reducing communities to camps just like our hospitals have been reduced to tents.
We therefore call on the President, Governors, IGP, NCS, state Commissioner of Police, to take necessary steps in decongesting the overcrowded correctional and detention centers in the state as directed by the Chief Justice of the Federation, for the safety of the inmates and the officers who look after them. Also, the education of all inmates on the safety measures against Covid-19 should also be looked into for both yet to be released inmates and those who for one reason or the other would have to remain beyond the Covid-19 period. Safety kits should also be provided for them as well to avoid the case of outbreak like in South Africa.
The IGP should also caution the Police officers who have used the COVID 19 period as an opportunity to raid, Victimize, extort and detain citizens, especially in Lagos, Ogun and Benue State in particular. This would only deteriorate the already existing bad perception of the Nigerian Police and defeat the community Police relationship which we need, to address security challenges in the Country.
We continue to urge the people of Nigeria to also cooperate with the government, Task Force to ensure respect, safety of lives and property and avert the destruction caused by community clashes, properties by government.
We urge the President, Governor, IGP, Commissioner to work together to take care of this situation, avert massacre in the land as nobody is more Nigeria than others and end this trend of human right abuses.
Let us be Nigerians again and wash ourselves of sentiments of color, tribe, groups, party, greed that have de-valued lives and made us a point of ridicule by countries of the World! Let Nigeria lives matter again for we have insulted ourselves enough. Let us be more accountable to Nigeria’s than the world.
#Re-
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