The Edo state government has sent 200 constabularies to three major local government areas for strict compliance of COVID-19 safety protocol.
This is as a result of the newly-posted Commissioner of Police in the state, Phillip Ogbadu, who has warned residents against violating the 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew to stop the spread of COVID-19 in Edo.
Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu, who addressed the constabularies, instructed them to perform their duties professionally.
While addressing them, he said: “You are going for a very important assignment, which is the enforcement of COVID-19 safety protocol in Oredo, Egor and Ikpoba-Oka local government areas.
“You must ensure that all the eateries have hand washing facilities and encourage social distancing.
“All eateries and banks in the council areas must not be crowded, while customers must be on queue for easy entry into those places. “All the drivers, both private and commercial, and their passengers must also wear face mask.”
Shaibu said any driver or passengers found not wearing a face mask should be arrested and prosecuted. “You, as enforcers, must show good example by wearing your own face mask properly and you must now allow any gathering of more than 50 persons,” he said.
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The deputy governor expressed his shock and sadness at the news of the second wave of COVID-19 claiming more lives than the first.
He also stated that persons who refused to adhere to the rule of wearing face masks in public would be risking arrest and prosecution, thereby becoming ex-convicts.
This information was stated yesterday by Ogbadu at Government House, Benin, after he visited Governor Godwin Obaseki
The police chief said: “I wish to encourage the general public, especially the good people of Edo State, to always obey the restriction order emplaced by Edo State government.
“COVID-19 pandemic is a reality of our time. The more we believe it, the more we have the ability to overcome it, by observing government set-out protocols and staying safe.”
