Covid-19: Oyo Govt. To Arrest, Prosecute People Without Facemask In Public

Oyo state government is set to arrest and prosecute residents who fail to comply with the use of facemask in public places from next month.

A coordinator of enforcement from the state COVID-19 emergency operation centre and risk communication pillar, Mrs. Kunmi Oladipo made this known today during an enforcement mission to Bodija market in Ibadan

Mrs. Oladipo explained that the state has recorded a low level of compliance to the wearing of face mask in public places particularly markets hence the need to reemphasize the importance of the directives and ensure the people duly comply as the battle against coronavirus is still ongoing

She also noted that the enforcement team would within one month sensitize, persuade and ensure compliance but if there was no appreciable improvement, the team might embark on arrest and prosecution.

Similarly, President of environmental health officers association of Nigeria, Oyo state chapter Tijani Adegoke who was on the enforcement team said the state government would not relent in its effort at ensuring compliance to COVID-19 directives in public places, adding that the enforcement team has started restraining people without facemask from gaining access into the market

Some of the traders at the market agreed that the effort of the state government in tackling the virus deserved commendation and promised to adhere to the directives of wearing facemask as well as provision of hand washing facilities at various points in the market.