Media Centre for Safety Reporting (MCSR), has condemned the incessant harassment, and attacks on Nigerians, on essential services, including reported torture and killings meted out on citizens of this country by the security agents during this COVID-19 lock down.
The group whose aims and objectives include but not limited to; “conducting and communicating routine safety analysis, risk assessment and hazard identification” warned that “anarchy looms, if Nigerians at the frontline of confronting this deadly invisible foe in such an unprecedented warfare period, are subjected to another avoidable terror from the hands of those who ordinarily supposed to be the ones at the frontline in a conventional warfare”
Gen. Tukur Buratai, Army Chief
The President of the Centre, Mr John Thompson said in a statement that “MCSR are compiling data of all the reported unsafe acts and violation of safety rights of Nigerians by security agencies in this COVID-19 period” for action and global attention.
He specifically pointed out the case of a trigger-happy soldier, who unprovokingly shot at journalists on duty in Ibadan, Oyo state and the latest brutalization of Dr. David Daniel Edet, a senior staff at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, who was on essential assignment in the Akwa Ibom state capital on the 3rd April, 2020.
IGP Adamu
This unfortunate attack on a frontline medical Practitioner which left him hospitalized, was allegedly led by one Sergeant Alexander Edidong of the Nigeria police, Akwa Ibom state Command at a road block; according to a petition made available to Newsreel, jointly signed by the President, Dr Paul Walshak; General secretary, Dr. Ekemini Bassey and Dr. Ekomobong Udoh Publicity secretary – Association of Resident Doctors of University of Uyo Teaching Hospital.
Akwa Ibom State Gov. Udom Emmanuel
The Media Centre for Safety Reporting (MCSR) called for “immediate withdrawal and reorientation” of all
security personnel assigned to enforce this sit-at-home with the basic HSE procedure online with global best practices.
Mr John Thompson, also called for investigation and prosecution of the army officers involved in killing of unarmed Nigerian in Warri and threats of sexual harrassment and assualt against women in Delta State.
He lamented the abyssmal decay that has crept into the once reputable Nigeria Army and urged the, Inspector General of Police, Chief of Defence Staff, Chairman Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha and Commander in Chief, President Mohammadu Buhari to bring sanity to security institutions in Nigeria, “to save us from global ridicule and avoidable catastrophe”.