1909 people have been arrested by the Federal Capital Territory for violating Federal Government’s sit-at-home order due to the widespread of the dreaded coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
This disclosure was made by the FCT Commissioner of Police, Bala Ciroma.
Ciroma said that 1,736 people were convicted by 13 mobile courts. 145 persons were discharged and 28 cases adjourned.
The police commissioner disclosed that 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 last couple of weeks.
“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, he added.
Ciroma 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.
He noted that the command has intensified effort to protect lives and property in the FCT, adding that 43 suspects were arrested by police operatives 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.