by The Ajasa News | May 21, 2020 10:06 am
By Martin Odiete, Abuja
Following persistent harassment of Journalists and other essential workers by men of the Nigerian Police in the cause of enforcing President Muhammadu Buhari’s no movement order, the Inspector General of Police, M.A Adamu has warned over-zealous Police officers to understand that journalists are part of workers on essential duties and should desist from harassing them.
This was exquisitely contained in a statement by the Force PRO, Frank Mbah on Thursday. The statement clearly said, “Following unending inquiries on the status of essential workers in respect of the due enforcement of the national curfew and inter-state movement restriction orders emplaced by the Federal Government, it has become necessary to clear all ambiguity on the position of the Nigeria Police Force especially as it relates to persons on essential duties.
“The Force wishes to state that it is not oblivious of the sensitive, indispensable, patriotic and frontline role of the nation’s workforce that falls within the category of Essential Service Providers particularly as it relates to efforts to curtail and contain the COVID-19 pandemic.
“To this effect, all essential workers including medical personnel, ambulance service providers, journalists, fire-fighters, etc remain exempted from the movement restriction orders as well as the national curfew.
“Consequently, the Inspector General of Police, IGP M.A Adamu, NPM, mni has directed Zonal Assistant Inspectors-General of Police and State Command Commissioners of Police to give maximum effect to these orders and extend due courtesies to essential service providers so affected and also ensure that personnel deployed for the enforcement duties respect the fundamental rights of the citizens.
“Meanwhile, the IGP enjoins all workers who fall within these categories not to take undue advantage of their positions and privileges to advance other purposes not connected with the performance of their duties within the stated period,” the statement concluded.
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