By Adebisi Onanuga
The Otu Oka Iwu Law Society has demanded for a coroner’s inquest into the killings of two youths by the Police while allegedly enforcing the lockdown ordered by Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State.
The request was contained in a statement issued by the group and signed by its President, Chief Chuks Ikokwu.
The two youths were allegedly shot dead following argument with policemen who ordered them to go indoors within the precincts of their house at Nkpor, near Onitsha, Anambra State.
While encouraging all citizens to remain law-abiding and obey all orders aimed at containing COVID-19 pandemic, the group demanded that a coroner’s inquest should immediately be set up by the Anambra State Government to unravel the circumstances leading to the death of these youths who have been cut down in their prime.
“This incident is one of the many reported cases of gross human rights violations by law enforcement agencies on the heels of efforts to contain the coronavirus pandemic.
“It is noteworthy that these incidences have become a recurring feature, given that the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has particularly accused the police and other law enforcement agencies of trampling on the rights of citizens in the guise of enforcing the COVID-19 orders.
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“Equally instructive is the fact that the five South East States have once again been turned into a theatre of war, being among the top 10 states where the police operatives are especially trigger-happy in enforcing the coronavirus orders.
‘’Aside from Anambra State which has now joined this inglorious list, Abia, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo are among the states with the highest recorded cases of human rights violations linked to the enforcement of coronavirus directives. This is notwithstanding the fact that the states have very few cases of COVID-19″.
The group lamented that the security operatives have killed more citizens in the Southern states than the dreaded coronavirus pandemic.
“In fact, while the South-east states have not recorded any COVID-19 related case, the law enforcement agencies have killed no less than five South- east residents. This is totally unacceptable”, it stated.
The law society recalled that the NHRC had earlier reported incidences of human rights violations in such areas as extra-judicial killings, violation of the right to freedom of movement, unlawful arrest and detention, seizure/confiscation of properties, sexual and gender based violence (SGBV), discrimination, torture, inhumane and degrading treatment and extortion.
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