The misinterpretation of information by law enforcement agency amid COVID-19 pandemic

BY NICHOLAS BENU JR., LAGOS

Just 24 hours into lock down, law enforcement officers in Lagos have begun “harassing” workers over the interpretation of the conditions under which certain individuals are to be exempted from the state wide curfew.

According to Lagos Commissioner of Police Hakeem Odumosu, who spoke on TVC Monday, workers in essential services must prove that they are on duty in addition to provide their identity cards to be allowed on the road.

“……the fact that I am a doctor, police man or journalist, am I on duty?” said Odumosu, moldingvagueness over how essential workers, even with proper identification, can carry out their much-needed duty amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

“ID only tells us who you are and where you work,” he said. The new condition by the police cast ambiguity and creates room for abuse of power. It also differs fundamentally from the president’s directives.

President Muhammedu Buhari in his address on Sunday declared a 14-day total lock down in Lagos, Ogun and Abuja – the worse hit state by COVID-19– but said essential workers would be allowed to continue operation although there were certain conditions on some categories of workers.

No condition required essential workers to prove there were on duty. In his address, President Muhammed Buhari said the order does not apply to hospitals and related medical establishments as well as organizations in health care related manufacturing and distribution. Moreover, he said, commercial establishments such as; food processing, distribution and retail companies; petroleum distribution and retail entities, power generation, transmission and distribution companies; and private security companies are also exempted.

“Although these establishment are exempted, access will be restricted and monitored.” While workers in telecommunication companies, broadcasters, print and electronic media staff who can prove they are unable to work from home are also exempted.