The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, today insisted that medical personnel, ambulance service providers, journalists, fire-fighters and some few others remain exempted from the movement restriction orders as well as the national curfew of 8pm -6am.
He made the clarification in a statement signed by the Force Spokesman, Frank Mba, in Abuja, Wednesday.
ExpressDay recalls that following intense harassment, intimidation and arrests of medical personnel, the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), on May 19, directed its members to commence work from 8am and close by 4pm to avoid harassment by security agents.
However, the IGP in the statement noted that: “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.”
The IGP has, therefore, 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.
On the other hand, IGP Adamu, charged 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.
