No fewer than 50 persons have been arrested by the Police for violating the curfew imposed by the Edo state government in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
DSP Chidi Nwabuzor, the command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), disclosed this while briefing newsmen on Tuesday on the command’s achievement in the enforcement of the government order.
The Edo Government had on Sunday imposed a statewide dusk-to-dawn curfew, which commenced on Monday and was to last from 7 pm to 6 am daily.
This was part of the state government’s strategy to curtail the spread of the Coronavirus in the state.
“The clampdown on violators was necessitated by the Edo Government’s address on Sunday imposing a dusk to dawn curfew in the state.
“The command together with other sister security agencies in the state commenced enforcement immediately the curfew commenced on Monday.
“The 50 persons apprehended represents the number of violators from the various divisions of the command as well as the state command headquarters.’’
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the violators apprehended within the Benin metropolis were taken to the mobile court at Urhokpota for prosecution.
At Urhokpata, Mrs Beatrice Imade, the Coordinator of the COVID-19 mobile court, said the mobile court had been handling an average of 40 violation cases per day since it was set up.
Imade said that those convicted are usually given non-custodial sentencing as well as community service and option of fine.
She said that the fine imposed on the violators was less than N10,000.
According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), as at April 20, there are 15 confirmed cases of Coronavirus reported in Edo; seven active cases, seven discharged cases and one death.
