COVID-19: Rivers N/Asembly caucus flays police setting up parallel task force

The Rivers state National Assembly caucus has condemned the police for setting up a parallel task force to monitor compliance with COVID-19 safety protocols, ban on inter-state movement and the curfew imposed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to the caucus, the action of the state Police Coommissioner, John Mukam in establishing the task force as directed by the inspector general of police was a recipe for anarchy in the state.

Leader of the caucus, Senator George Sekibo at a press briefing in Abuja, said the police action was unwarranted, even if the body created is a technical committee
that would ensure the movement of agricultural products and other essential items into Rivers state.

Sen. Sekibo described the development as confrontational not only to the authorities of the Rivers state government, but to her citizens and residents, asserting that “it is essentially, antithetical to and a reversal of the aims and purposes of the COVID-19 inter-state lockdown and measures to curb the pandemic.”

The caucus while urging that the inspector-general of police to reconsider his line of action, declared that the natiin runs a federal system of government, as such a state cannot have two chief executives at the same time.

“For the avoidance of any ambiguity, we urge the inspector general of police to do first things first, which is, enforcing the ban on inter-state movement as ordered by the President.

“It is the complete failure of the police in this regard that has worsened the COVID-19 pandemic, not only in Rivers state, but nationwide.

“The case of Rivers state now and indeed, most southern states is every day, trucks ostensibly carrying food items come into Rivers state with 30-40 young men mischaracterized as ‘almajarai’.

“These are able bodied young men leaving their locations to Rivers state under the eyes and watch of the police and utterly against the lockdown order of the state and federal governments.

“In this instance, the Rivers state government reserves the right to stop such violation and punish the violators. While we cannot stop them between Kano and Abia states where the police freely allow them passage, we can stop them at our borders and within our territory.

The whole idea of temporary ban on inter-state movement of passengers is to check new infestations and spread of COVID-19,” it observed.

Consequently, the caucus said it is adding it’s voice to the call made by the Rivers state Council of Traditional Rulers to enjoin President Muhammadu Buhari to call the inspector-general of police and the state police commissioner to order, by restraining them from establishing a parallel government in the state.

It further called on Mr. President to order an investigation into why the ban on inter-state movement of has recorded near zero compliance, despite the presence of the police on the highways.

The caucus warned that if the police action is not reversed and the ban on inter-state movement enforced, the interpretation will be that the police is engaging the powers and apparatus of the federal government to enforce ethnic supremacy against the Rivers people.