COVID-19: Group hail IGP’s deployment of Intervention Squad

LAGOS, Nigeria – Police Campaign against Cultism and other vices POCACOV and Salute Nigeria Initiative (Finger off the trigger) and some other Civil Society organizations have commended the Inspector General of Police, IGP Abubakar Adamu for deploying Special Intervention Squad  to Lagos and Ogun states. 

The group equally commended the IGP for directive to Zonal AIG’s and Commissioners of Police across the country to immediately rejig the security architecture in their various Commands to effectively tackle all emerging crimes associated with the COVID-19 lock-down.

The National Coordinator of Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices, POCACOV CSP Ebere Amaraizu and the Convener of Salute Nigeria Initiative, Initiators of Finger of the Trigger Chielo Onyima Ojirika in a joint statement said that the IGP proactive move has started yielding results and urged Nigerians to adhere to the directives and medical advice by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.

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 Recall that Nigeria Police Special Tactical Squad (STS) smashed a two-man car stealing gang led by one Bashir Isiaku, aged 34, notorious for stealing cars from the car park of the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) and as well arrested 28 year old female armourer, Fatima Garba alongside her gang of kidnappers and armed robbers, notorious for attacking Nigerians around Sokoto, Kebbi, Kaduna and Niger States, estimated to have made over twelve million naira from various criminal escapades and a recovery of some arms which include 5 AK47 rifles, 1 G3 rifle, 1 Berretta pistol, 1476 rounds of ammunition, 36 rounds of G3 ammunition, 6 AK47 magazines, 1 operational vehicles, 8 mobile phones and a box containing operational tools

“While we commend the security operatives for the feat, we urge Nigerians to use the period of this pandemic to always observe the recommended hand washing exercise, the use of face mask when necessary, regular use of hand sanitizer and observe the Social Distancing to Slow the Spread of Covid 19 among other health warning.

 “To regularly do some of these things to prevent the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus): washing our hands, coughing into our elbows, avoiding touching our faces, staying home if we’re feeling sick and social distancing, which simply mean, remaining out of “congregate settings” as much as possible, avoiding mass gatherings and maintaining distance of about 6 feet from others when possible.

They equally applauded Federal Government outlined  palliative measures to cushion the effect of the #COVID19 Pandemic, which include but not limited to the directive to the Nigeria Customs Service to release 150 truckloads of rice seized from smugglers for immediate distribution across the country, as Part of the FG’s palliative measures to cushion the effect of the #COVID19 Pandemic.”

 They commended the Presidential Task force for considering the use of traditional medicine for treatment for COVID-17 and President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval of the engagement of 774, 000 Nigerians for Special Public Works programme in the country to cushion the effect of COVID-19 pandemic, among other palliative measures. 

“We urge Nigerians to have faith in Federal Government sincerity of purpose and determination to reduce the effect and impact of this pandemic on our human resources and economy and shame the dooms day pundit and make Nigeria great again. And avoid every form of criminality or banditry during and after the pandemic.  

“We pledge our total commitment towards the attainment of the expected outcome of ensuring that all persons with the virus are dictated, Quarantined and flattening the curve as well as stop the spread of the virus. 

“As a grassroots and Community based organizations, we have been mobilizing our stakeholders and volunteers on various campaigns, with the view of adhering to all recommendations in sensitizing our communities to ensure we imbibe healthy living and improved hygiene among others”, they said, adding that some palliatives have been distributed in view of the little resources with the help of some well spirited individuals.

“We plan to roll out more campaign targeted at the less privilege in the 774 local Government areas and as well collaborate with other critical stakeholders to ensure that the IGP directives and the Presidential Taskforce mandate is actualized”, they said.