Tunji Adedeji
Professor Maurice Iwu led Imo State Task Force on COVID-19, has started the arrest and prosecution of motorists and pedestrians caught without face masks in the Heartland City of Owerri .
Those arrested recently included drivers and other occupants of vehicles as well as those trekking at Wethral road by Cherubim junction.
Two Mobile courts were set up in former FSP Park to prosecute those who violated the face masks order.
A combined team of policemen, officials of Imo State Task Force on COVID-19 and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps were seen stopping and arresting violators of the directive.
As of the time Trumpeta arrived at the scene, no fewer than 11 motorists and six pedestrians had been booked and were taking turn before the magistrate.
Fielding questions from journalists at Government House Owerri shortly after his meeting with the 27 LGA Chairmen, the Chairman, Imo State Task Force on COVID-19, Professor Maurice Iwu said the committee has constituted a teams to monitor compliance to the COVID-19 protocols in the state.
Prof Iwu attributed the increase in the number of COVID-19 positive cases and related deaths in Imo to total neglect of safety guidelines and warned that security agents have been briefed to ensure compliance in the 27council areas.
He said that at this phase in the evolution of the coronavirus pandemic, taking personal responsibility was now more important than ever.
Iwu who enjoined all the chairmen to take the massage to their various LGA’s said such personal responsibility was not only for self-protection but also for protecting other people, including loved ones.
According to him, “mask usage is mandatory in public places as a strategy to curb the spread of the virus.”
