The Borno State Commissioner for Home Affairs, Information and Culture, Babakura Jatau has vowed to punish three Imams for violating the COVID-19 lockdown order for holding Friday congregational prayers.
The Commissioner said that holding congregational Friday prayers exposed worshippers to risks of spreading COVID-19 in the State and an outright violation of lawful order.
Jatau, a member of the Borno Response Team on COVID-19, spoke during a daily briefing at the State’s Government House in Maiduguri, Borno State.
The Commissioner said the three Islamic Scholars have violated the law and must be punished to serve as deterrence to others in the state. Hon Jatau says : ”It is disheartening to tell you that three Islamic Scholars (names withheld) today violated the total lockdown rules by conducting Juma’at prayers in their respective mosques in the metropolis.
“The violators have been fished out and would definitely face the full wrath of the law.”
The Commissioner also reviewed the lockdown directive, stressing that bread, kosai, iced blocks, and pure water sellers were free to operate from 4pm.
“As part of continued review of lockdown measures, the high powered response team has announced that a window of 4pm has been allowed for sellers of bread, sachet water, iced blocks and local foods – kosai, masa and shayi, to meet the needs of fasting citizens who may need food for iftar,” Jatau said.
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