By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
A foremost human rights organisation, the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), has expressed dismay over reports of mass interstate movement of people, especially those suspected to be infected by the global deadly coronavirus (COVID-19).
CLO said that despite the executive order by President Muhammadu Buhari and state governors banning interstate movement, which are still in active force, there has been mass movement of persons in their droves across the country.
The organisation referred to reports by the media that some state governments in the northern Nigeria have been returning indigent citizens resident in their respective states to their states of origin, whereas other large number of people are being moved down in lorries to the southern Nigeria from northern states.
In a statement on the development of mass movement of people across the states as against the restriction order, the Executive Director of CLO, Comrade Ibuchukwu Ohabuenyi Ezike, condemned the brazen abuse and flouting of government’s order banning interstate movement.
“CLO condemns this brazen abuse of the executive orders passed by Mr. President and governors in Nigeria by some lawless and disobedient Nigerians.
“This flagrant violation of the COVID-19 pandemic orders banning interstate movement of people and goods in the country is an invitation to uncontrollable spread of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic across Nigeria and, therefore makes nonsense, the energies, time and huge resources being sunk into the campaign against coronavirus in Nigeria, the massive hardship, suffering and imprisonment of Nigerians for months notwithstanding.
Comrade Ezike said that CLO views the criminal evacuation of these unsuspecting, peasants from their states of residence to their states of origin as a gross human rights violation. It holds the state governors and security agents who allow the passage of these persons into their states to aggravate COVID-19 threats in those states accountable.
“We note with dismay that when it is for the interest of these host states, they would retain these poor and unprotected citizens as their own citizens, such as, during the national Census to boost their populations; drawing of more funds from the national purse and increases in their local revenue; and during national elections to win more votes.
CLO regrettably observed that they are now repatriating them to their states of origin in times of emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We make bold to say that Nigerians in foreign nations some of who are infected by COVID-19 disease have not been deported to Nigeria. Moreover, national centres have been established in various States of Nigeria where patients of coronavirus disease could be quarantined for treatment till they are well. Instead of taking these Nigerians to these centres, some state governments are transporting them from one state and region to others, thereby helping to escalate the dangers and spread of this disease.
“Government and its agencies allowing this lawlessness to persist is assisting to support some persons who argue that COVID-19 is a fraud and concoction meant to deceive the citizens and an invitation to plunder the Treasury.
CLO is therefore calling the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to wake up to its responsibility by intervening in this serious matter by investigating and prosecuting any Nigerian(s) whether as an individual, working for the state or any government or its agencies found to be involved in this criminal, wicked and lawless act.
It calls on the security agencies including state security institutions such as the Neighborhood Watch, Forest Guards and Amotekun, ex-cetera, to brace up to the challenges by ensuring that no person or group of persons not authorised by law should be allowed into their states from other states throughout the duration of inter state lockdown orders.
Most importantly, CLO urges the citizens to stand up in defence of themselves and their states by collaborating with their state governments, security agents, the state and federal government committees and Task forces working in support of the anti COVID-19 Campaigns in Nigeria and ensure that no illegal persons or goods enter their states until the lockdown orders are lifted.
“We call for full compliance with the laws in order to ensure that human rights are not infracted upon. Remember that any positive step we take brings us nearer to freedom”, CLO advocates.
