Femi Falana, a senior advisor of Nigeria, has advised
President Muhammadu Buhari to withdraw armed troops from enforcing COVID-19
restrictions.
His advice is premised on reports of human rights abuses by
troops enforcing regulations and restrictions put in place by the federal
government to curb the spread of COVID-19.
“Last week, some video clips which were in circulation
exposed the horrendous physical attacks unleashed on members of the public by a
number of armed troops,” the lawyer said in a statement on Sunday.
“The victims of such attacks were alleged to have contravened
the COVID-19 regulations. But in a bid to cover up the atrocious infringement
of the fundamental right of the Nigerian people, the Defence Headquarters
dismissed the video clips.
“Barely 24 hours later, fresh video clips confirmed the
brutal murder of Joseph Pessu in Warri, Delta state by trigger happy armed
troops.”
Falana also referenced another video clip where “a couple of
soldies were threatening to rape women and transmit HIV to them”.
“However, based on the nationwide condemnation of the brutal
killing of Joseph Pessu and the threat to rape women by a bunch of rampaging
soldiers the Defence Headquarters turned round to announce that the culprits
had been arrested.”
He described the killing as” unconstitutional” explaining
that no act, including the armed forces act, empowers security operatives to
harass civilians “under the pretext of
enforcing any law or regulation whatsoever”.
“Therefore, the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed
Forces should not hesitate to direct the service chiefs to withdraw all armed
troops from further enforcing the COVID-19 Regulations.
“Having refused to call the torturers in military uniforms
to order, the Defence Headquarters should not be allowed to conduct the
investigation.”
Falana advised that the National Human Rights Commission be
allowed to take over the investigation from the defence headquarters.
According to the lawyer, the penalties for contravention
listed in the quarantine act prescribes a N200 fine, six months imprisonment or
both for defaulters.
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