Covid-19: Edo Govt deploys 200 Constabularies for protocol enforcement
The Edo State Government has deployed 200 constabulary police officers to three Local Government Areas, to enforce strict compliance with Covid-19 safety protocol.
The constables were deployed to Oredo, Ikpoba Okha and Egor Local Government Areas, with a charge to arrest those not wearing facemasks in public.
The enforcement team stormed markets, parks, eateries, and banks to arrest defaulters who flouted the government’s directive on compulsory wearing of facemasks in public.
Addressing the constabulary police officers in the State Capital,Benin City, Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu charged them on professionalism in enforcing compliance.
He said anyone found not wearing a facemask in public would be arrested and taken to the testing centre for compulsory testing.
According to him, “You are going for a very important assignment to enforce the Covid-19 safety protocol. You have been deployed to Oredo, Egor, and Ikpoba-Okha LGAs to make sure that all the eateries have hand wash facilities and to ensure social distancing among the customers visiting the eateries.
“We must ensure all the eateries and banks are not crowded. People must line up for easy entry. All the drivers, both private and commercial, and their passengers must put on face masks.”
While conducting the enforcement team across markets, parks, eateries, and banks in Benin metropolis, he said, “the enforcement has started, those that were caught today are lucky that they were not taken to tribunal. And we gave them that opportunity to go and rethink and obey the law. They may not be lucky next time. We have the Police constabulary in place, and the state Public Work Volunteer (PUWOV) and other partners have also contributed men and materials for this cause.
“The state government is determined to enforce Covid-19 safety protocol at all levels, what we have done today is just to officially start the commencement of strict enforcement.”
The Deputy Governor said the enforcement was not for motorists alone but includes pedestrians.
He said mobile courts have been set up and anybody caught would be arrested and prosecuted.
“The fine may be small, the punishment may be big. The biggest of them all is the conviction; if you are convicted, just know that you have become an ex-convict,” the Deputy Governor added.
Channels TV/Confidence Okwuchi
