Coronavirus: Nigerian Army to enforce Lockdown, secure food supplies

The Nigerian Army is to embark on a special operation with a multidimensional approach, which includes enforcing the restriction of movement and compulsorily moving sick people to hospitals.

This is as part of the government’s strategy to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease, a document obtained by Premium Times has revealed.

The Operation, tagged ‘Op-Second Eleven’, has been sanctioned by the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai.

This was contained in a memo signed by Nigeria Army’s Chief of Policy and Plans, Lamidi Adeosun, and copied to 112 recipients, including all the subdivisions of the army.

The memo directs the suspension of all projected 2020 events of the army that involves large gatherings including meetings, briefings, and conferences.

Mr Adeosun, a lieutenant general, recalled that the army chief had, early this year, predicted the likely activation of ‘Op-Second-Eleven in the course of the year 2020.

He said with the recently recorded cases of COVID-19 in Nigeria, the likelihood of the federal government calling for the activation of ‘Op-Second-Eleven’ may not be ruled out.

Mr Adeosun said Mr Buratai, a lieutenant general, has directed that aside suspension of most programmes slated for this year, the army is also making plans to lease out excavators, trucks, water tankers and other relevant vehicles to aid the operation in the area of possible mass burial, water, and essential food/drugs supplies.

The memo said the army also plans “forceful transfer of the sick to hospitals, enforcement of government movement restriction order” among others.

The army also plans the closing of all army schools and training centers.

The Nigeria Army is also “planning to secure all major food stores and government storage facilities for essential goods from looting.

It is also planning coordination with sister services, Nigeria Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Fire Services and others on enforcing a restriction on movements and other directives by the government.

(Source: Premium Times)