Health impact of security agents’ COVID-19 lockdown control tactics on citizens of north-central Nigeria: evidence and policy options

Abstract

The COVID-19 lockdown control tactics used by security agents on the citizens of north-central Nigeria were studied for their effects on health The convenience sampling method was employed to select six states of the study area. Due to the nature of the data collected, quantitative data analysis was limited to percentages, while state-by-state evaluation was used to summarize qualitative data sources. Additionally, hospital records from five privately owned and two government-owned hospitals in each of the study area’s states were generated, for a total of 42 hospitals sampled for the research. The obtained medical records demonstrate that the COVID-19 lockdown control actions by security agents have a detrimental effect on the health and well-being of the citizens in the study area. Amputation (0.27%), bacterial vaginosis (3.43%), coughing (11.16%), cataracts in the eyes (7.69%), etc., were reported. There was an association found between victims’ health issues and security agents’ use of force. Proposed were reforms and least invasive methods of managing public health, including social marketing, education, democratic policing tactics, and facilitation engagement.

Keywords

• COVID-19
• health challenges
• security agents
• north central Nigeria
• lockdown control tactics