The Minsterial task force team of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on the enforcement of COVID-19 restrictions in Abuja has arrested eight people caught violating the lockdown order.
The Chairman of the task force team, Mr Attah Ikharo gave this announcement to reporters on Thursday evening in Abuja, saying the violators were arrested in Kubwa and Dutse Alhaji districts of the FCT, pointing out that the defaulters would be arraigned in mobile courts subsequently.
Mr Attah Ikharo noted that one of those caught defaulting claimed to be a soldier in the hope of intimidating the policemen, and after much interrogation, he confessed to telling the lie in order to evade arrest and be free.
A bar was also seen fully operational at about 10 pm and on getting to the manager, he said he was open because the owner is a serving major in the Nigerian Army. He also said the major had told him to shut down at 8 pm but he was still operational long after the curfew time had elapsed. Some people caught drinking was also arrested among.
The task force chairman, however, commended the people of Kubwa and Dutse who have in most part, obeyed the lockdown order in the FCT, pointing out that the same could not be said of the residents in Lugbe.
He said, “Unlike Lugbe where we went a few days ago, most of the known nightclubs and bars in Kubwa and Dutse-Alhaji were closed.
Vehicular movement was very few and made up largely of those on the exemption list
He also expressed his disgust at the number of people using the name of the military to default and deceive the task force team.
“The level at which some residents of Dutse Alhaji and Makaranta parade themselves as military personnel even when they are not must stop. The Chef claimed to be a soldier while the beer parlour Manager said the place belongs to a Major in the Army. This must stop forthwith. People should not drag the name and image of the military in the mud.”