Enugu State Command of the Nigeria
Police has announced its commencement to enforce strict compliance to social
restriction orders as a means to curtailing the outbreak of Coronavirus
pandemic in Nigeria.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, in a
statement on Monday, also disclosed that the state Commissioner of Police,
Ahmad Abdulrahaman has asked his men to forthwith desist from unnecessary
arrests and detention of trivial suspects, except in cases of heinous crimes.
Furthermore, all detained suspects must be screened to ensure that such
suspects have not been affected by the pandemic.
Similarly, the command said it will release suspects that do
not have serious matters for their detention. The Enugu command said its order
is a follow up to the Inspector General’s directive that states, including
Enugu state, comply with the social restriction orders. “In pursuance of the
above, the Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Command, CP Ahmad Abdurrahman,
while entreating the good citizens of Enugu State to willingly abide by such
legitimate orders and measures aimed at controlling the spread of the virus in
the State, has ordered all Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers and
Heads of Tactical/Operational Units of the Command to ensure the strict
enforcement of the social restriction orders and other legitimate orders by the
Federal and Enugu State Governments. “The Commissioner of Police, while
enjoining Officers and Men of the Command to observe personal safety measures,
has directed them to stop forthwith any form of unnecessary arrest and detention
of suspects in Police Cells within the Command. He also ordered the immediate
release on bail of suspects who might have been detained for offenses
considered not very serious and/or bailable.
In line with this, suspects arrested for
serious offenses such murder, armed robbery, kidnapping, rape/defilement and others
that are nonbailable, must be thoroughly screened before they are detained to
avoid the spread of the virus,” Ndukwe stated. CP Abdulrahaman called on
citizens of Enugu State to remain vigilant and law-abiding in this trying
moment and enjoined them to avoid, except where absolutely necessary, social
visits to Police Stations and offices as well as reduce official visits. He
further reassures all and sundry of the Command’s commitment to ensure the
security and safety of lives and property in the State.
