The Edo Commissioner of Police, CP Lawan Jimeta on Thursday revealed that the state has put in place measure to embark on total lockdown in a bid to contain the spread of Coronavirus.
Jimeta who gave the assurance on Thursday in Benin said prior to the plan, the Police Command in the state could only sensitise residents on the dangers of the virus and way it can be prevented.
He appealed to their conscience to do the right thing and adhere strictly to measures already put in place by the state government in containing the spread of the pandemic in the state.
He said that the command would also work according to the Inspector General of Police directive as well as the human rights guidelines.
“If government decides on a total lockdown in the state, it will not be as punishment on the citizens, because they were not just part of the society, but also part of the government.
“So, government should come up with measures to ease the hardship that a total lockdown would foster on the people.”
The commissioner therefore called on residents to respect the partial restriction of movement put in place by the state government to reduce the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.
He noted that the restriction would give the state government the opportunity to monitor contacts of reported cases and prevent further spread of the virus.
He noted that the security agencies do not have the full authority to restrict any movements in and outside the state, hence the deployment of advisory techniques in educating the people on the need to respect the partial restriction.