Lagos police arrest 2,310 violators,impound 2,092 vehicles,1535 motorcycles,

By Patience Ogbo 

Lagos state commissioner of police CP Odomosu Hakeem on Monday during a press briefing said the command has been up and doing since the declaration of a lockdown due to the Covid- 19 pandemic. 

He said " since the  declaration of COVID-19 as a pandemic by the World Health Organisation, measures were put in place by the Federal Government of Nigeria and Lagos State Government to prevent the spread of the virus. The Police, being the lead agency in internal security and a front liner in combating the ravaging virus, adequately mobilized its human and material resources in enforcing the directives issued by Government. This was done in collaboration with other security agencies in the State. 

2. During the lockdown period, Lagos State Police Command succeeded in arresting 2,310 violators of lockdown order. We charged 2,185 suspects to Court and they were awarded various punishments. We released 125 suspects, who are mostly under age offenders. Our enforcement teams impounded 2,092 vehicles, comprising 800 private vehicles and 1,292 commercial vehicles. We equally impounded 1,535 motorcycles and 369 tricycles. 

3. With the pronouncement of the gradual easing of the lockdown by the Government with effect from Monday, 4th May, 2020, the Command adopted more effective measures and strategies to enforce the curfew imposed from 8.00pm to 6.00am daily as well as the ban on non-essential inter-states movements. Our teams were also deployed to ensure that Lagosians obey the guidelines regarding opening and closing time for businesses, workplaces, markets; the use of facemask in public places; number of passengers per commercial vehicle and maintaining social distancing principles. 

Giving a breakdown of the arrest made, CP Odumosu said 

 On the first day of the enforcement, we arrested 121 suspects for violating the curfew order and 79 vehicles were impounded. 58 suspects were arrested for not wearing facemask.  Within the last one week, the Command has successfully arrested 1,434 violators. Out of the number 820 were arrested for violating curfew, 134 arrested for not wearing face mask, 80 arrested for not maintaining social distance and 208 arrested for interstates travel. 123 vehicles were impounded, which include 25 vehicles intercepted for interstates travel. 332 motorcycles and 29 tricycles were also impounded.