AIG Makama seeks protection for policemen against Coronavirus

The Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone II, Malam Bashir Makama, yesterday stressed the need why officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) also need Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as the battle against the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic continues in the country.

He said: “So far, we have provided them with nose covers.
“We will still do more because they are out there and they must be protected.”

Makama, in charge Oyo, Osun and Ondo states, also said that the role of policemen was essential just like that of healthcare workers and the media in the course of curbing the spread of the deadly disease.

The AIG made these submissions while featuring on a popular radio magazine programme, Parrot Xtra Hour on Radio aired on Space 90.1FM, in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State.

The police chief, who reiterated that the major responsibility of the police as far as COVID-19 is concerned is to ensure compliance with measures and directives put in place to contain the spread of the deadly virus and ensure that the citizens are free from infection, said:

“Policemen are also very critical and should be considered as frontline workers in the battle against the spread of COVID-19.

“Our men are all over the place to work with health workers to ensure there is peace and orderliness even at sample collection centres, hospitals and other points where patients are being evacuated and treated.”

Speaking on the conduct of some police officers while enforcing lockdown laws and curfew in different states, Makama disclosed that there would always be bad ones among police officers just like there are in other professions, saying: “These officers and men are the ones who allow people to cross inter-state borders and allow people to move around when there is curfew. They should be reported. And we will deal with them. .

“We are inundated with reports of people being allowed to move around illegally here and there. If there is any illegality being perpetrated, we should be alerted.

“We have taken steps severally to mitigate some of these things. If they are reported, we will treat them but if they are not reported, there is no way we will know.”

Meanwhile, Makama expressed police readiness to support the operation of Western Nigeria Security Network, code-named Amotekun.