Covid-19: Court convicts 1,736 lockdown violators in FCT

The police in Abuja have arrested 1,909 persons for violating the presidential lockdown order.

The FCT Commissioner of Police, Bala Ciroma, disclosed on Friday that 1,736 were convicted by 13 mobile courts, adding that 145 persons were discharged and 28 cases adjourned.

He said, “In the last couple of weeks, the command has been on the streets enforcing the presidential lockdown order to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus, which is today a global health issue.

“In the course of this enforcement exercise, persons arrested for violating the presidential directive are arraigned before mobile courts. The convicted violators were sentenced to community service or asked to pay a fine.”

The CP enjoined traditional, religious and community leaders to complement the effort of the government to contain the spread of the virus by using their influence to educate and enlighten the people on the need to observe the lockdown order.

Ciroma noted that the command has intensified effort to protect lives and property in the FCT, adding that 43 suspects were arrested by during the lockdown.

According to him, items recovered from the suspects include an AK47 rifle, eight locally-made pistols, one Tavor rifle, and one Dane gun.

Others are 37 ammunition, 10 cars, 11 cutlasses and knives, three phones, and two motorcycles.

In compliance with the directives of the Inspector-General of Police, the command said it has focused its crime-fighting effort on armed robbery, kidnapping, ‘one chance’ robbery, theft, and house-breaking.