Interfaith group seeks punishment for security agencies sabotaging lockdown order

The Interfaith Mediation Centre has called on the Kaduna State government to arrest and punish any security agent caught sabotaging its lockdown directives. The group also urged the government to adopt Plateau State’s model by putting surveillance cameras to track security agencies collecting bribes from drivers as well as  drivers that violated the lockdown order […]

The Interfaith Mediation Centre has called on the Kaduna State government to arrest and punish any security agent caught sabotaging its lockdown directives.

The group also urged the government to adopt Plateau State’s model by putting surveillance cameras to track security agencies collecting bribes from drivers as well as  drivers that violated the lockdown order at entry points  into the state.

This was contained in a communique ‎signed by Pastor Dr. James Movel Wuye and Imam Dr. Muhammad Nurayn Ashafa, Co-Executive Directors‎ of the group, issued at the end of the monthly meeting with Peace Journalism forum supported by Mercy Corps.

They agreed that the punishment would greatly serve as a deterrent to others‎ who are compromising the effort of the government in tackling the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

The group also lamented the rate of crime in some parts of the country, Kaduna in particular, despite the COVID-19 lockdown.

“Nigerians must adhere to all the measures put in place by the health authorities to protect themselves against the pandemic, especially social distance practice. There should also be concerted effort to ensure that security agencies are mobilised alongside community vigilantes to clear communities of such notorious groups,” the communique said.

They advised that communities should be vigilant about the new faces that come into their areas.

They commended the idea of neighbourhood markets by Kaduna government but observed that there was no adequate sensitisation about the markets.

They expressed the need at this period for Nigerians to be their brother’s keeper, by helping especially the masses with palliatives because the federal and state governments cannot handle the responsibilities alone.