Etim Ekpimah
The Lagos State Police Command has denied ordering closure of churches in the state.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Hakeem Odumosu, said in a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, on Thursday that an online medium misquoted the police.
The statement read: “The attention of the Lagos State Police Command has been drawn to a distorted and misleading publication credited to one online link, Newspot Nigeria (newspotng.com), that the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, CP Hakeem Odumosu, has ordered for closure of churches in Lagos State.
“The command wishes to debunk the publication as it runs contrary to the position of the command which was contained in its press statement issued earlier today, 31st December 2020 by its spokesman, MUYIWA ADEJOBI. The command’s statement was explicit on the enforcement of COVID-19 protocols as clearly stated by the Presidential Taskforce and the Lagos State Government, respectively.
“For clarification, the preventive COVID-19 protocols include the use of face mask at public places, maintaining social distancing, closure of night clubs, bars, lounges, event centres; no social party, street carnivals and due enforcement of the Federal Government imposed 12 midnight to 4am curfew. No closure of churches was included in the already established and released COVID-19 protocols contrary to the mischievous publication in question.”
The command stated that according to the directive by the Lagos State Government, churches can operate with strict adherence to the already laid down COVID-19, while event centres can operate with the permission of the Lagos State Safety Commission with due consideration to the COVID-19 guidelines in the state.
The statement added: “The command therefore wishes to urge the general public to disregard the misleading and unfounded publication and go about their lawful businesses; and they are also urged to be involved in the moves to halt the spread of the pandemic in the state.”