ANAMBRA RESIDENT CONDEMN POLICE SHUTDOWN ENFORCEMENT

Reactions have continued to trail the alleged killing of two persons by a police officer and the bursting of vehicle tyre of a civilian by security personnel said to be enforcing the comprehensive lockdown order in Anambra State.

According to some concerned residents, there is need for both government and security hierarchy in the state to put measures in place to address such incidents, saying that the prevailing measures do not conform with international best practice.

The two weeks lockdown declared by the Anambra State Government no doubt was aimed at ensuring that the COVID-19 pandemic did not spread and the index case was properly managed.

To enforce the directive, the police command and other security agents mobilised to ensure full compliance with the order aimed at saving lives.

However, one of the respondents, Mr. Okey Nwanguma, noted that several complaints had been coming against unprofessional conducts by some security personnel and called on the Commissioner of Police in the state to put in place a mechanism that would help in monitoring the conduct of officers on duty.

A security expert, Mr. Chris Udeze, while condemning the incident that led to the death of civilians in the ongoing lockdown, called on the federal and state governments to urgently come up with palliatives for the people as a hungry man no doubt is an angry man.

A civil society activist, Mr. Elvis Okolie, noted that the pandemic had exposed police weakness in terms of training and professionalism.

He expressed regret that more lives were being lost to security killings across the country than death recorded for COVID-19.

Another respondent and human rights activist, Comrade Obi Ochije, said this period called for caution, especially on the part of law enforcement agents even as he called on the authorities to look into the citizen’s cry against police brutality.

The Chairman House Committee on Security, Police Affairs and Boundary Matters in the Anambra State House of Assembly, Mr. Onyebuchi Offor, urged the people to obey government directives on the COVID -19 Pandemic, which was made in good faith.

Mr Offor, however, said the killing of innocent citizens was not an option to the fight against the virus ravaging the globe.

However, the Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, Mr. John Abang, has ordered for a proper investigation into the incidents, promising to address the issues raised.

UCHE NDEKE