COVID-19: 3 Clerics, 20 Others Arrested In Delta For Violating Restriction Order

Three clergymen and 20 other persons, have been arrested by the police in Warri, Delta State, on Sunday, for violating restriction on movement ordered to curb the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

BIGPEN recalls the state governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa had ordered restriction of movements with effect from April 1, as a measure to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.

The state government would later signed a regulation into law empowering it to punish offenders and consequently set up mobile courts to try violators.

The Sunday violators, a vicar of the All Saints Church at Airport road in Warri, a General Overseer of Christ for the World Mission and an Anglican priest were arrested for conducting church service on Easter Sunday at separate times by a police team led by Warri Area Command, Mohammed Garba, an assistant commissioner of police.

BIGPEN reports that last week over 30 persons within the Warri metropolis were arrested for similar offence, arraigned before a mobile court in Warri South and subsequently sentenced for contravening the Regulation 2 sub 1 of Infectious Disease (emergency prevention regulations 2020 of Delta government and section 61 of the Public Health Law of Delta, Nigeria 2006.