Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, on Monday, called on the Inspector-General of Police and the Service Chiefs of Nigerian Armed Forces and State Security Service as well as other security agencies, to streamline and monitor the movement and activities of their men.
He said the warning became imperative going by the unprofessional engagements and unwholesome activities of security men at this trying time of nationhood, saying such unprofessional activities of security men usually cause needless, avoidable and unfortunate maiming and killing of innocent people could be prevented.
Governor Akeredolu made the call in Akure while speaking with journalists on the update of COVID-19 pandemic activities in the state as he recalled that Ondo state recorded another three fresh confirmed cases of COVID-19 pandemic on Saturday which raised the total cases of COVID-19 to eight.
According to him, security agents, who ought to enforce the Government’s restriction order are themselves accomplices who abuse the trust placed in them at this critical time.
“Our borders are still porous and heavily compromised.
Members of the public, upon witnessing this massive compromise by law enforcement agents and other Government officials, are thereby encouraged to defy the safety regulations and persist in error.
“In any and all of these scenarios, we are the losers. The level of threat and risk to our lives and those of our loved ones are heightened. We must do something to prevent these unfortunate and absolutely avoidable experiences,” the governor said.
“As you are aware, Ondo State recorded five more cases of COVID-19 infection over the weekend. The fourth and fifth cases occurred on Saturday while the sixth, seventh and eighth cases were discovered yesterday, Sunday”, he added.
The fourth and fifth cases were clear evidence of panic, disobedience, lack of discretion, and reckless disregard for the well-being of others, while the sixth, seventh and eighth cases were regrettable cases of community transmission whose presence in our State were by default.
“For purpose of clarity and for a clear understanding of the facts of the matter by members of the public, the fourth and fifth cases are officers of the Nigeria Police Force, serving under the Lagos State Police Command while the sixth case is a murder suspect who was arrested in Edo State and transferred to Ondo State for the trial of crime earlier committed in Ondo State. The seventh case was a female civilian who sneaked into the State from Abuja.
Meanwhile, the eighth case was discovered in Owo and samples were taken were confirmed positive late last night.”
Akeredolu, however, said in order to curtail a further spread of the infection through these cases, he had directed the activation of a wider process to trace, isolate and test all primary and secondary contacts with all the cases while at large in the state.
