The Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit yesterday arraigned 65 offenders at the Special Offences (Mobile) Court over movement during the ‘COVID-19 Midnight Curfew’ on New Year’s Day in Lagos.
There has been a curfew put in place by the federal government since the pandemic broke out in the country as one of the measures to combat the spread of the virus.
Chairman of the Agency, CSP Shola Jejeloye disclosed that the 65 offenders were arrested in Lekki, Surulere and Ikeja during midnight enforcement operations in the early hours of January 1, 2021, as directed by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Hakeem Odumosu.
The offenders were fined N20,000 each with an additional one hour ‘Community Service’ after they had pleaded ‘Guilty’ to the one count charge of breaching the curfew order.
CSP Jejeloye disclosed further that 11 vehicles were also impounded for being on the road during the period, thereby attracting a fine of N50,000 each for the owners of the impounded vehicles.
He stressed that the State Government is determined to sanction any person or organisation caught breaching ‘Public Health Regulations and Protocols’ on the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the Chairman, “If we don’t do the needful, the spread of the disease will continue unabated. We must also be conscious of the fact that the new strain of the virus spreads faster than the old strain, as such the Lagos State Government will continue to insist and encourage Lagosians to obey all the COVID-19 stipulated protocols”.
He, therefore, urged the citizens to always wear face masks at all times, wash their hands with soap and running water or use hand sanitiser while practising physical distancing in compliance with the COVID-19 safety guidelines.
