Gov. Akeredolu to prosecute policeman admitted for COVID-19

Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, might push for the prosecution of a policeman who has been admitted at the state Infectious Disease Hospital after testing positive for COVID-19 in Lagos State.

It was gathered that the Governor was peeved that the policeman put the lives of Ondo residents at risk after about two weeks when no fresh COVID-19 case was recorded.

In a Twitter post, Governor Akeredolu described the action of the policeman as reckless.

Earlier today, I got news of another positive case of #COVID19 admitted to our facility in Akure. The case of this individual who is a police officer is unique. He was tested in Lagos but came to Ondo state while awaiting his results . Upon receiving a positive result,

— Arakunrin Akeredolu (@RotimiAkeredolu) April 25, 2020

…part of the officer of the Law to risk the lives of others. I am most disappointed in the level of porosity of the entry points to the state. The police officer should know better. I have contacted the commissioner of police to double up on securing our entry points.

— Arakunrin Akeredolu (@RotimiAkeredolu) April 25, 2020

The policeman was said to have been tested in Lagos but came to Ondo before the result was released.

Upon getting the result through a text message, the policeman raced back to Lagos and when treatment was not forthcoming, he returned to Ondo and asked to be admitted.

Government sources said the Governor was worried on how the policeman could enter the state at a time the borders were closed and heavy security details were manning them.

The source said charges would be preferred against the policeman after he has been treated.

It was further learnt that the Governor might also asked for an overhaul of police personnel in the state as their activities in curbing the spread of COVID-19 have been unimpressive.

Also, some policemen manning Ondo State borders are to face disciplinary action after a Benue State bound commuter bus carrying about twenty passengers from Lagos was intercepted at Akure city centre.

Adie said he has warned his men at all entering points into Ondo State to ensure no entry of any kind, except those considered to be on essential services.

He said he has directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge Operations to bring to book all those involved in the coverage of the routes the bus passed through until it was apprehended in Akure.

The Ondo Police boss vowed to deal decisively with those found culpable in the passage of the Benue bound bus into Akure.

The statement reads in parts, “Even though border points into Ondo State are manned by a combination of all security agencies in the State, it is considered the prime duty of the Nigeria Police who by their stand is the first on the frontline of internal security to live up to their bidding by sincerely performing their tasks at this crucial moment without any blemish.

“Since the State government announced the first index case, I completely placed my Command on a new direction of correctness, sweeping away those with timid and unprofessional attitudes that may jeopardize the directives of government, and I can be bold to say that we are totally keeping with the tenet of professional policing which is why the Command is working at an incredible rapid rate in order to cover all entry points into Ondo State.

“In this hard and tempting period of our lifetime, no police officer worth his salt should be found engaged in any act inimical to the reason for policing.”