Lawan seeks probe of IDP camp fire that killed 14

From Sanni Onogu, Abuja

The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, on Friday, urges relevant authorities to investigate a fire incident that killed 14 persons at an Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Ngala, Borno State.

Lawan, according to a statement by his Special Adviser (Media), Ola Awoniyi, also condemned alleged cases of extra-judicial killings by security agents during the ongoing lockdown aimed at containing the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the country.

He said that a thorough investigation of the fire incident would help to avert a re-occurrence.

He commiserated with the victims of the fire incident and also mourned the 14 persons said to have lost their lives in the inferno.

He further commiserated with the Government and people of Borno State over the tragic incident.

In another development, the Senate President condemned in strong term the cases of extra-judicial killings by security agents as reported by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in the course of the enforcement of the lockdown ordered in parts of the country to contain the spread of the Coronavirus.

Read Also: Borno IDPs’ camp fire: FG promises early relief to victims

Lawan said he was saddened by the report by the NHRC that 18 persons were killed by high-handed security officers tasked to enforce the stay-at-home directives.

The Senate President said that extra-judicial killings, in whatever guise, should be discouraged in our society.

He called for a thorough investigation of the cases and that those indicted be promptly brought to account.

“Life is sacred. It is a tragedy that those asked to enforce compliance with emergency measures adopted for public safety are now being accused of responsibility for needless and totally avoidable deaths of citizens,” Lawan said.

The Senate President said any officer found culpable of unprofessional use of weapons should as a standard practice be made to face prosecution.

Lawan urged Nigerians to continue to cooperate with the authorities as they strive to defend the country against the deadly virus.