Security agents killed more Nigerians within 14 days than coronavirus - NHRC

The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, said yesterday it was worried that within the initial lockdown period of two weeks, security agents across the country extra-judicially killed more Nigerians than the dreaded coronavirus.

The commission, in a statement signed by its Executive Secretary, Mr. Tony Ojukwu, decried that whereas COVID-19 only led to the death of about 11 patients in the country as at last Tuesday, a total of 18 persons were illegally executed by law enforcement agents to enforce the lockdown regulations.

It observed that of the 105 complaints/incidents of human rights violation it received and documented within the initial lockdown period, Lagos State had the highest recorded cases with 28 incidents, followed by the FCT, Abuja which had 10 recorded cases.

The commission also revealed that it got eight documented incidents of extra-judicial killing that led to 18 deaths, adding that of this number, 12 deaths were recorded in Kaduna State; Abia State, 2 deaths arising from two incidents; while Delta, Niger, Ebonyi and Katsina states recorded one death each.

According to the rights body, shortly after the federal and state governments, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, okayed several measures, including regulations and directives that empowered the security agencies to ensure compliance and enforcement of the stay-at-home order that followed the lockdown.

In line with its mandate of promoting and protecting human rights, the NHRC said it issued advisory to security agencies on March 30, to respect human rights in the enforcement of COVID-19 Regulations.

Ojukwu said: “This was followed by a Directive to staff of the Commission, CSOs and members of the Public on March 31 to document and report to the commission, any security agents violating human rights in their law enforcement duties while enforcing COVID-19 regulations."

“Hotlines were also circulated by the Commission to put this into effect. Security agencies were reminded to carry out the enforcement exercise in line with national human rights laws as well as international best practices to ensure that the rights of Nigerians are not unduly violated in the course of carrying out their law enforcement mandate."

“The commission is happy to report that many members of the public actually placed calls and sent videos in response to the call to join hands with the Commission to monitor human rights violations during the COVID-19 lockdown period."

“This report therefore documents the various incidents of human rights violations allegedly perpetrated by security agencies and Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) by other actors during the initial lockdown period commencing from 30th March, 2020 to 13th April, 2020.

“It also documents the various thematic areas in which the violations occurred, the nature of the violations, the disaggregated data on states where violations were reported, the agencies of Government responsible for the violations as well as the response/action taken to remedy the violations.

“The report shows that a total of 105 complaints were monitored/received from twenty-four States (24) out of the 36 States of the federation including the FCT, namely: Abia, Adamawa; Akwa Ibom; Bayelsa, Benue; Cross Rivers; FCT, Ebonyi State; Edo; Enugu State; Ekiti State; Delta State; Gombe State; Imo State; Kaduna; Katsina; Kogi; Kwara State; Lagos; Nasarawa; Niger State; Ogun; Osun; Plateau and Rivers States.

“Out of 105 complaints/incidents of human rights violation received and documented within the initial lock down period, Lagos State has the highest recorded cases with 28 incidents. This is followed by the FCT, Abuja which has 10 recorded cases.

“Enugu State recorded 9 incidents followed by Abia, Delta and Nasarawa States which recorded 7, 6 and 5 incidents respectively. Rivers State also recorded 5 incidents of human rights violation while Imo recorded 4 incidents.

“Ekiti, Akwa Ibom, Gombe, Kaduna and Ebonyi States recorded 3 incidents each; while Kwara, Osun, Benue and Niger States recorded 2 incidents each. Edo, Adamawa, Ogun, Cross River, Kogi, Bayelsa, Katsina and Plateau States recorded 1 incident each.’’

On the thematic areas and types of violations it recorded, the NHRC stated: “The report shows that complaints of human rights violations were received and documented in the following thematic areas: extra-judicial killings, violation of right to freedom of movement, unlawful arrest and detention, seizure/confiscation of properties, sexual and gender based violence (SGBV), discrimination, torture, inhumane and degrading treatment and extortion.

“There were 8 documented incidents of extra-judicial killing leading to 18 deaths. Out of this number, 12 deaths were recorded in Kaduna State. Abia State also recorded 2 deaths arising from 2 incidents; while Delta, Niger, Ebonyi and Katsina States recorded 1 death each.

“Whereas COVID-19 has led to the death of about 11 patients to date (14/4/20), law enforcement agents have extra-judicially executed 18 persons to enforce the regulations.

“This speaks volumes of the protocols and rules of engagement for our law enforcement as well the efficiency level and capacity of law enforcement agents to deal with civil population.

“It’s a sheer display of impunity and reckless disregard for human life in law enforcement by security personnel. “The report further shows that out of the 18 deaths, the Nigeria Correctional Service was responsible for 8 deaths while the Nigeria Police Force was responsible for 7 deaths.

“The Nigeria Army, on the other hand, was responsible for 2 deaths while the Ebonyi State Task Force on COVID-19, Afikpo South LGA was responsible for 1 death. “Other types of violations recorded within the period include 33 incidents of torture, inhumane and degrading treatment, 27 incidents of violation of right to freedom of movement, unlawful arrest and detention, 19 incidents of seizure/confiscation of properties, 13 incidents of extortion, 4 incidents of SGBV, and 1 incident of discrimination in the distribution of food items.

“The report finds that the Nigeria Police Force accounted for about 90% of the total cases of violations followed by the Nigeria Army and Nigeria Correctional Service and other non-state actors. “The report also finds that 31 incidents of violations representing about 29% of the complaints have been resolved by different security agencies.”

“The report further finds that the various human rights violations recorded during the period arose as a result of excessive or disproportionate use of force, abuse of power, corruption and none adherence to international and national human rights laws and best practices by law enforcement agents.’’

The commission said it had in collaboration with Open Society Initiative for West Africa, OSIWA, the UK Department of Foreign Investment and Development, DFID, The Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Foundation and the Switzerland Embassy, developed an App for the electronic monitoring, documentation and reporting of human rights violations.’’