COVID-19, Law Enforcement, and Lockdown in Northern Nigeria

Babayo Sule; Usman Sambo

doi:10.25159/3005-4222/19041

Authors

Babayo Sule National University of Lesotho Roma https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3879-4884
Usman Sambo Department of Public Administration

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25159/3005-4222/19041

Keywords:

COVID-19, human security, law enforcement agency, lockdown, northeast Nigeria

Abstract

Law enforcement agencies are always expected to act professionally in performing security duties. The concept of security can include both conventional and human aspects. Human security features prominently in contemporary discussions of international and national security architecture, including pandemic. This study critically examined the responses and activities of Nigerian security agencies, particularly the Nigerian Police and the Nigerian Army, during the COVID-19 lockdown in northern Nigeria. The lockdown and its enforcement by these agencies resulted in human rights violations and other security threats. Data for this study were collected through semi-structured interviews with selected key informants, using a qualitative case study approach. The 15 informants were drawn from various groups, including security personnel, medical doctors, members of affected communities, and government officials. The data were analysed using content analysis. The study found that people in the northern states of Nigeria have grossly violated the lockdown order in search of livelihood due to the enforced, overwhelmingly harsh and severe economy, leading them to use porous routes and sometimes highways to travel between states. This situation resulted in torture, brutality, harassment, and extortion by security agents in the region. The study, therefore, recommends that, in future unforeseen events such as lockdowns, the government should provide for the extremely needy to prevent breaches of law and order, while law enforcement agencies should be guided towards professionalism.

Author Biography

Usman Sambo, Department of Public Administration

Associate Professor, Department of Public Administration, Yobe State University Damaturu, Nigeria

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