A coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Bauchi State against the Coronavirus pandemic say they will monitor human right violations over the implementation of the lockdown order in the state.
Mr Sodangi Chindo, Chairman of the coalition who made the disclosure in a statement on Sunday said following reports of abuse from security agents trying to enforce the partial lockdown, the coalition will put eyes to monitor human rights violations arising from the COVID-19 pandemic in the state.
“We are also monitoring compliance of the citizens to preventive mechanisms such as border security among others,” he said.
Sodangi said the coalition, tagged, Bauchi CSOs COVID-19 Intervention Situation Room was introduced to help tame the spread of the pandemic, monitor the government’s distributions of palliatives and put eyes on high-handedness of security agencies on citizens.
The coalition blamed the state government for excluding civil society organizations on the state’s taskforce and palliatives’ committee.
The coalition hopes that it was an oversight on the side of the present administration given its inclusive policy.
“We also believe that CSOs’ active participation will contribute to reversing the rise in infection rates in the state, as well as ensure the identification, isolation and treatment of persons who have contracted the virus,” a press statement sent to newsmen in Bauchi read in part.
The statement also called on the state’s taskforce on COVID-19 to work with community structures for proper inclusivity of vulnerable groups.
The statement reiterated the commitment of CSOs to help the state government fight the dreaded coronavirus pandemic.
