INTER-STATE
LOCK DOWN AND THE LOOMING DANGER OF SECURITY LOOPHOLES
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious
disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus. Most people who fall sick
with COVID-19 will experience mild to moderate symptoms and recover without
special treatment.
How it spreads
The virus that causes COVID-19 is mainly
transmitted through droplets generated when an infected person coughs, sneezes,
or exhales. These droplets are too heavy to hang in the air, and quickly fall
on floors or surfaces.
You can be infected by breathing in the virus if
you are within close proximity of someone who has COVID-19, or by touching a
contaminated surface and then your eyes, nose or mouth.
INTER-STATE
LOCK DOWN AND THE LOOMING DANGER OF SECURITY LOOPHOLES
In a bid to manage the spread of the dreaded
COVID-19 in Nigeria and the South-East zone in particular there were series of
executive orders by the various state Governors leading to lock-down, curfew
and restriction of movements in the various parts of the country.
These measures according to the government was to
help us "Stay Safe" and "Keep Safe" There were various promises and news about
palliatives. While some got to their end users as promised, some never did, they were just on the news (AUDIO MONEY).
But my bone of contention is the continuous
influx of commuters in and out of our states when security agencies have clear
directives to prevent movement of people in and out of the states except on
essential services, foods and drugs.
The big question:
1. Who allowed the index cases in the states of
Abia, Ebonyi, Anambra and Enugu free passage into the states?
2. What are the missions of these COVID-19
patients to the states?
This and various questions arises from the south
East and other states of Nigeria. Do we start concluding that the security
agencies are used the lock-down as business opportunity to enrich themselves or
they are allowing inter state movement as a result of personal recognition
(IM-Ima Mmadu in Igbo), or as a result of pity and necessity. It borders
us when the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Enugu Police Division goes around
arresting people in their shops and extorting various amounts of money in
the guise of implementing the lock-down while the borders that are to be effectively locked and free for anyone to enter and exit, even corpses from Northern states.
The questions and the remarks are much to be
desired. But the main issue remains "Are we really keeping/staying
safe" when people can come in and out of our borders when movements are
completely supposed to be restricted especially inter-state?
There are therefore many lessons to be learnt
from the COVID-19 pandemic and am optimistic our leaders, policy makers and all
stakeholders will learn either the soft way or the hard way.
The Police leadership at the various levels and other security agencies must insist on zero corruption and adherence to TOR (Terms of Reference) of duty rather than flouting orders for personal gains.
#Justthinkingaloud#
Did you hear me?
