The Lagos police command has announced the arrest of 620 persons, including 39 at a strip club, who violated the lockdown in the state.
On March 30, President Muhammadu Buhari had restricted movements in Lagos, Ogun and Abuja to limit the spread of coronavirus. The president later extended the lockdown by two weeks.
In a statement on Sunday, Bala Elkana, Lagos police public relations officer, said those who violated the lockdown order were arrested between April 21 and April 24, 2020.
“On 21/4/2020 at about 2000hours, acting on information, operatives from Denton Police Station arrested 95 inter-state travellers at Bhojson area, Ebute Metta in seven commercial buses with registration numbers LG 91 BGT, Lagos to Benue; BDA 690 XA, Lagos to Abuja; BGA 86 EA, Lagos to Abuja; LSD 459 XA, Lagos to Benue; LRN 105 YR, Lagos to Ilorin; LSD 81 XX, Lagos to Ilorin and BWR 975 PN, Lagos to Abuja,” he said.
“The buses were impounded; the drivers and passengers were charged to mobile court and sentenced accordingly. In addition, 211 violators of lockdown order were arrested in different parts of the State and also charged to court.
“On 23/4/2020 at about 2230hrs, operatives from Maroko Police Station arrested 10 suspects for organising a party at Lekki Garden. The suspects were arraigned in Court on three-count charges and found guilty as charged. They were sentenced to 6 months imprisonment and community service, to run concurrently.
“On April 24, 2020, at about 0130hours, acting on credible intelligence, officers from Idimu Police Station arrested 39 persons in a hotel at Idimu for clubbing and striptease.
“Also, on 24/4/2020 at about 2030hours, Enforcement team from the Rapid Response Squad arrested one Suleiman Abubakar, the Imam of Sheik Central Mosque, Mile 12 Ketu, for holding evening prayers (Maghrib and Isha prayers) in the mosque with a large number of worshippers in violation of social distancing regulations.”
According to the statement, Hakeem Odumosu, the Lagos police commissioner, urged residents to continue to be law abiding, and warned them against “spreading fake news and recycling old videos on social media with new captions that suggest that the incidents happened during the lockdown period in Lagos, mainly to create panic” (The Cable)
