Borno to punish 3 Imams for conducting Friday juma’at prayers despite total lockdown

The Borno State Commissioner for Home Affairs, Information and Culture, who is member of the State’s High Powered Response Team for the prevention and control of COVID-19, Mallam Babakura Abba Jatau has said three Islamic Scholars (names withheld) who violated the total lockdown rules by conducting Jumaat prayers in their respective mosques in the metropolis have been fished out and would definitely face the full wrath of the law.

He made the disclosure during the daily media update on the virus on Friday at the Multi- Purpose Hall, Government House, Maiduguri.

The Commissioner said, the team upon receiving a distress call that three Imams with their followers conducted Jumaat prayers in the mosques, despite the lockdown order to observe social distancing, swung into action by notifying the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Umar Garbai El-kanemi, in which His Royal Highness had to call the attention of the Chief Imam of Borno who assisted in fishing out those culprits.

“It is disheartening to tell you that three Islamic Scholars (names withheld) today violated the total lockdown rules by conducting Jumaat 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 team upon received a distress call that three Imams with their followers conducted Jumaat prayers in the mosques, despite the lockdown order to observe social distancing, we swung into action by notifying the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Umar Garbai El-kanemi, in which His Royal Highness had to call the attention of the Chief Imam of Borno who assisted in fishing out those culprits.” He said.

Updating Journalists on the COVID-19 pandemic in the state, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Salisu Kwayabura regrets to announce that “Three confirmed cases have been identified, bringing the total confirmed cases to 15.”

Out of these confirmed cases, Dr. Kwayabura said 5 were receiving treatment at the Brigadier General Abba Kyari Memorial Hospital, while 7 were at the Isolation Centre, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), adding that all the patients are responding to treatment.

He also said, as it is, 105 contacts have been made, puts under surveillance at the designated isolation centres, and none of them have manifested any symptoms.

The Commissioner said, “on the Dikwa case, four mobile ambulances were deployed and brought in the number of three suspects to Maiduguri for necessary action.

“Likewise, the suspected case who led the burial ceremony of the first index case, and resides at the Bakassi Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp, have been traced and tested positive to the virus.

“On Pulka community, a total of 17 samples have been taken and submitted for test at the UMTH.”

He therefore said, during the total lockdown, water, iceblock, food and other related vendors are allowed to go out and do their normal businesses, while he enjoin the general public to bear with the COVID -19 Response Team to stay at home, observe social or physical distancing and maintain good personal hygiene at all times.