Joy Anyim
Sixty youths, alleged to have organised a party at a hotel, 84 Parks and Gardens, Idi Oparun Bus Stop, opposite Abattoir at Abule Egba, area of Lagos State were, on Wednesday, arrested by the Lagos State Task Force on COVID-19, for violating the federal government lock down order.
The joint taskforce, made up of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), Lagos State Safety Commission , Rapid Response Squad (RRS), and Task Force Officials, stormed the venue of the party, following a tip off by concerned members of the public.
According to the team leader, Director Enforcement and Monitoring LASEPA, Kayode Bello, who confirmed the gathering was a birthday celebration, the youths also flouted the social distancing directive.
While the said hotel had been sealed off, the General Manager (GM) LASEPA, Dolapo Fasawe, who spoke on the development, also revealed that the taskforce had also sealed off a night club, that was using a pharmacy as cover, at VGC.
Fasawe said: “ it is no longer business as usual in the State, this pandemic has united us all and encourages citizen participation in terms of information sharing. We responded at exactly 3:10 pm after receiving the information.
“ Surprisingly, we met the youths who were shabbily dressed for a birthday party. It shouldn’t be difficult for us to obey simple instruction and adhere strictly to safety precautions, so as to timely flatten the curve so nolmacy can return back to the world. “The facility has been sealed off while the youths were taken away by the police for further investigation and profiling. This is to appeal to parents and guardians to seriously warn their wards to stay away from unlawful gathering. All hands are on deck to ensure that there is no hidden place for flagrant violators.
“ The war can only be won through the collective efforts of all. We all have a part to play as stakehoders. We also sealed off a night club using a pharmacy to cover up at VGC on monday as a result of information sharing from concerned citizens.”
While also speaking, the Director General (DG) Safety Commission, Mr Lanre Mojola, expressed shock that despite the enlightenment and advocacy of the state on social distancing and staying at home, some people could still devise unholistic means to gather and merry when lives are been lost across the globe.
“ its disheartening that the youth who are the future of this great nation are insensitive about their health, and if not because of them they should think about those people who are to be affected directly or indirectly by their action or inaction, ” he said.
He further warned facility owners not to allow themselves to be used in perpetrating evils.
The taskforce maintained that the state wont hesitate to apply the provisions of the law on event facility owners, who defy government orders, and cut corners without consideration for the implication all because of financial gain.
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