The Commissioner of Police in Ekiti, Mr. Amba Asuquo, has directed officers and men of the command to ensure absolute respect for human rights in the enforcement of the Stay-at-Home order by the State Government over the COVID-19 pandemic.

This followed reported cases of alleged maltreatment and overzealousness on the part of some security personnel enforcing the lockdown order in the state.

Amba, who spoke through the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Sunday Abutu on Wednesday in Ado-Ekiti, applauded the residents for complying with the extension of the lockdown as pronounced by Governor Kayode Fayemi on Monday.

He said the strict adherence to the order by residents had reduced the level of arrests, contrary to what was witnessed in the first 14 days.

Abutu said: “The CP has been moving around the state to ensure that the rights of the people are not trampled upon. The protection of human rights is part of our statutory duties.

“Though our men and officers are on national duties to enforce the restriction of movement, this, however, does not mean that the rights of the violators should be infringed upon by way of maltreatment, the police won’t tolerate that.

“We have sensitized our men on duties all over the state on the need to be civil and they are complying with this directive going by the security reports we are getting.

“We, therefore, appeal to the residents to stay at home and to use the window opens for them between 6a.m to 2p.m on Thursdays to go out and restock, rather than flouting the lockdown order.

“We are particularly happy that the residents are complying and that was why we have not made any serious arrest since the extension started on Monday,” he said.

NAN