Enugu govt threatens to shut schools, markets over sit-at-home order
Enugu Government on Tuesday threatened that it will shut down schools and markets that observe the illegal one week sit-at-home order.
The State Government said this in response to reports on social media on Tuesday morning that proprietors of private schools in the state are sending messages to their pupils and students to the effect that they should not come to school from on account of one week sit-at-home order declared by those it described as ‘faceless non-state actors in the state.’
But Professor Chidiebere Onyia, the Secretary to the Enugu State Government warned in a statement that any school that fails to open and function normally from Tuesday will have its license revoked immediately.
He said, “The Enugu State Government also extends the same warning to market unions and shop owners in the state. All markets and shops in the various markets must be open to customers from today or be shut down indefinitely.
“Government reiterates its ban on any form of illegal sit-at-home in all parts of the state, as it is evil and antithetical to all values we hold dear as a people, such as the Igbo spirit of industry, hardwork, creativity and productivity.
“The general public is urged to go about their normal daily activities as adequate security measures have been put in place to protect lives and property.”
He further warned that, “Government will no longer sit by and watch faceless groups and misguided individuals issue illegal orders, dictating to us how to lead our lives, when to go to work or market and when our children go to school, while they ply their trade and their children go to school. This is no longer acceptable and must be confronted and defeated with every power and resources at our disposal.
“The State Government also warns that it will deploy the full instrumentality of the law such as the Cybercrime Act 2015 to go after and prosecute anybody, individuals, groups and organisations intentionally encouraging the illegal sit-at-home order, instilling fear on residents, raising false alarm to disturb public peace, etc, through fake news sharing and propagation of falsehood connected with the illegal sit-at-home order on social media platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, etc.
“This, however, is by no means, depriving citizens freedom of speech and information as enshrined in the constitution”.
Meanwhile, Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, has set up a new Police team, Distress Rapid Squad (DRS), to replace Police Urban Patrol for patrol of streets in the state.
The governor has shared photos of the newly purchased cars by his administration.
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