While Nigeria continues to battle the novel Coronavirus pandemic, the Government’s enforced lockdown in Abuja, Lagos and Ogun* has reached the third day, but surprisingly, some residents in the Agege area of Lagos State have not been following the order.
Some Islamic worshippers at Agege Central Mosque (Hausa Community) in Agege violently attacked a combined team of Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, (LASEPA) and Lagos State Safety Commission, journalists and some police officers.
The unfortunate incident which happened on Tuesday night, the first day of the lockdown when the team went out for monitoring and enforcement of the lockdown.
The team had earlier visited and sealed off a warehouse of Jumia, an online marketing store for contravening the lockdown order by the Federal government.
The agencies also sealed off SPN Packaging Studio Press Nigeria Plc on Plot B, Israel Adebajo Close, Ikeja and Supreme Hotel on 8, Omitola Panada, Agege.
On their way back to Alausa, the team stopped to check if the worshippers were adhering to the directive of the Lagos state government on the reduction of crowd.
The congregation was observing Solatul Ishai (the last part of the five daily prayers).
The LASEPA team leader and two journalists went into the mosque pavilion.
They were surprised by getting to the prayer section. The big mosque, popularly known as Moshalashi Alhaja, was filled to the capacity.
After completion of the prayer, the LASEPA team leader requested to have an audience with the Chief Imam of the Mosque.
A leader in the mosque told him, the Chief Imam was not around.
While requesting for the next person in rank, some members of the congregation started shouting at him.
As some of the mosque’s leaders were trying to calm down, they became more aggressive and manhandled some of the team members.
The team decided to leave when some of the worshippers resorted to carrying some objects.
Soon as they entered their vehicles, the worshippers started shouting Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar!!
They chased the team and threw objects at their vehicles.
LASEPA General Manager Dr Dolapo Fasawe condemned the action.
Fasawe described it as barbaric and archaic.
She stressed that the state will not hesitate to sanction violators to serve as a deterrent to others.
“It was obvious that the gathering did not comply with the directive of the state government. The mosque was filled to capacity.
“The essence of social distancing is to contain the spread of Coronavirus. The people are endangering their lives and those of their neighbours. The government has a duty to protecting lives of the people,” she said.
She promised to ensure that appropriate quarters take up the matter, adding that such gathering must not be allowed to continue.
Lagos continues to observe the total lockdown but there’s been a silent change as the Government has announced that markets would be open everyday from 10:00 am till 2:00 pm daily in order for people to be able to get their essential food commodities.
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