CSOs Advise Enugu against Use of Force to Enforcing Ban on Sit-at-Home Order

Gideon Arinze in Enugu

The Enugu Network of Civil Society Organisations (ENSNet) has advised the Enugu State Government against the use of force in enforcing the ban on sit-at-home order in the state.

The network was reacting to the decision by the state government to seal shops which failed to comply with the order, a development which resulted in a protest in the state and reported loss of lives.

In a statement yesterday, Chairman of the ENSNet, Osmond Ugwu, said that in as much as the network appreciates the efforts being made to end the sit-at-home, which has impacted  negatively on the security and economy of residents in the state, the approach of use of force by the government is not the best practice and runs counter to democratic norms.

“The action of sealing off of the shops of traders who voluntarily decided not to open shops on Mondays is tantamount to ultra vires as the state government under a democratic setting has no such powers to seal or close down the shops of the traders because there is no law that empowers the government to do so in a democracy such as ours,” the network
said.

The network also asked the government to locate the families of the casualties of the protest and pay them the necessary compensations arising from the loss of lives while those that sustained injuries are to be treated and paid necessary compensations.

It also reacted to the government’s statement which linked the development of the protest to the involvement of imported miscreants.

“It is an indication of security lapses since it beats our imagination to hear such story when government said that there is adequate security in every part of Enugu metropolis including around Ogbete Main Market,” it said.

Meanwhile, the  Enugu State Government has reacted to the protest that rocked the state following its decision to seal shops belonging to business owners who refused to comply with the government’s order banning the sit-at-home exercise.

 Aggrieved traders in Ogbete, the state’s main market, took to the streets on Wednesday to express their displeasure over the government’s decision to lock up over 106 shops for one week.

Reacting to the protest in a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Chidiebere Onyia, the state government claimed that traders whose shops were sealed for non-compliance with the order defied the instruction on how the shops should be re-opened and resorted to self-help by removing the seals.

He said: “This led to internal squabbles between the market leadership and some of the affected traders. The ensuing confrontation resulted in a protest, which was infiltrated and hijacked by dangerously armed hoodlums, who broke shops and looted traders’ wares.”

The government further claimed that attempts by security operatives to restore order and prevent further looting were violently resisted by the imported and armed hoodlums, adding that it was receiving further briefings on the development.

According to the statement, “In the meantime, investigation to unravel the circumstance surrounding the incident, including the reports of casualty, is already ongoing. “The government calls on the people and residents of Enugu State to remain calm and go about their lawful businesses, as adequate security measures are in place to secure lives and property in the state.”