11th May, 2020
By Kazeem Ugbodaga
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu on Monday revealed that 2,310 violators were arrested and 2,092 vehicles impounded in Lagos during the last lockdown in the state to check the spread of Coronavirus.
Speaking at a news conference in Lagos, Odumosu said of out those arrested, 2,185 were charged to court and were punished accordingly, while 125 others were released.
He said of the 2,092 vehicles impounded, 800 were private vehicles and 1,292 commercial vehicles, adding that the police equally impounded 1,535 okadas and 369 tricycles.
In his words: “During the lockdown period, Lagos State Police Command succeeded in arresting 2,310 violators of lockdown order. We charged 2,185 suspects to Court and they were awarded various punishments. We released 125 suspects, who are mostly under age offenders.
“Our enforcement teams impounded 2,092 vehicles, comprising 800 private vehicles and 1,292 commercial vehicles. We equally impounded 1,535 motorcycles and 369 tricycles.”
Odumosu added that with the pronouncement of the gradual easing of the lockdown by the government with effect from Monday, 4th May, 2020, the Command adopted more effective measures and strategies to enforce the curfew imposed from 8.00pm to 6.00am daily as well as the ban on non-essential inter-states movements.
“Our teams were also deployed to ensure that Lagosians obey the guidelines regarding opening and closing time for businesses, workplaces, markets; the use of face mask in public places; number of passengers per commercial vehicle and maintaining social distancing principles.
“On the first day of the enforcement, we arrested 121 suspects for violating the curfew order and 79 vehicles were impounded. 58 suspects were arrested for not wearing face mask.
“Within the last one week, the Command has successfully arrested 1,434 violators. Out of the number, 820 were arrested for violating curfew, 134 arrested for not wearing face mask, 80 arrested for not maintaining social distance and 208 arrested for inter-states travel.
“123 vehicles were impounded, which include 25 vehicles intercepted for interstates travel. 332 motorcycles and 29 tricycles were also impounded,” he said.