Coronavirus pandemic: Police authority calls for willing compliance .Comply with government executive order- Frank Mba tells Nigerians .We are taking measures to protect officers on duty

Coronavirus pandemic: Police authority calls for willing compliance

.Comply with government executive order- Frank Mba tells Nigerians

.We are taking measures to protect officers on duty

By Udeme Clement

The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Fank Mba has called on Nigerians to willing obey the Executive Order of the Federal and sub-national governments in the country, restricting large gatherings to curtail the spread of deadly coronavirus.

Speaking on TVC a while ago during the programme on ‘Your View’, he said, “The directive to stop large gatherings is an Executive Order, which must be complied with by the people.

‘When government issues Executive Order, it means the citizens must comply accordingly. A situation where people are not ready to comply voluntary, we have a duty to enforce compliance in line with the law”.

Responding to questions on enforcement carried out by Police officers at specific places, he explained,  “Basically our officers went out on observatory patrol, trying to enlighten people on the need to comply with government Executive Order restricting such gatherings, to curtail spread of this virus and to let them understand the consequences of non-compliance”.

On the directive by IGP warning against unnecessary arrests and detention, the Police PRO pointed out, “We are working in line with the law. There are serious offenses like armed robbery, homicide and others where the suspects must be taken to custody. But in minor offenses, we are not taking suspects to custody”.

On traffic offenses, he said, “At this period, we may not take traffic offenders to custody. However, in traffic offenses where there are fatal accidents and lives are lost, the suspects must be taken to custody for proper investigation”.

Answering questions on what the Police authority is doing to protect officers from being infected with the virus while on duty, he asserted, “We realise that this is change time and we have no past record on coronavirus epidemic.  Notwithstanding, we are being creative, thinking outside the box and also looking at what security agencies in other countries are doing to protect our officers”.

More so, recall that the IGP has previously ordered zonal AIGs, as well as CPs to enforce social restriction orders by government.

Thus, in giving this directive, IGP also warned against what he described as unnecessary arrests and detention of suspects in the country.