Following the confirmation of an index case in the state, Nasarawa State Government has directed security agencies operating in the state to dutifully enforce all proclamations issued in order to control and contain the spread of the coronavirus.

Nasarawa State Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, confirmed that the state has registered its index case after a 25-year old lady, tested positive to the virus after she returned to the state from Kano.

Briefing journalists shortly after an expanded council meeting at the Government House, on Tuesday, key stakeholders explained various stringent measures put in place to contain the spread of the pandemic.

First to address the press was the Emir of Keffi, HRH Dr. Shehu Chindo Yamusa, who pointed out that farmers in the state are not being restricted from carrying out their farming activities, said farmers are allowed to go to their farms to produce food for the benefit of the state.

The royal father equally cleared the air regarding the Muslim call to prayer, especially during this Ramadan period, as notification for people to pray with their families at home, stressing that government did not ban the call to prayer in Mosques but that congregational prayers in major and neighbourhood Mosques remain banned.

“ The government is drawing our attention to reduce movement and travelling, especially with the restriction on interstate travel, because only through travelling the COVID-19 spreads easily,” he said.

He warned that night travel will not be condoned, with stringent measures to be taken against violators of the restriction on movement.

On his part, state Commissioner of Health, Pharmacist Ahmed Baba Yahaya, highlighted on the effort put in place by government with the discovery of the index case, a lady resident in Kokona. 

Pharmacist Yahaya disclosed that the index case is already in isolation at the Dalhatu Araf Specialists Hospital Lafia, with effort in place for contact tracing in order to locate all those who may have had contact with the index case.

He further disclosed that the isolation centre at the DASH has been completed and equipped, with the index case already on admission. Similarly, the Health Commissioner revealed that isolation centres in Shabu and Akwanga are also ready, while those at Doma, Awe, Toto, Nasarawa and Mararaba to be completed within hours.

The Commissioner said government is establishing quarantine centres at the headquarters of every local government areas, for returnees from high risk areas, who will be isolated for the mandatory 14 days, with their samples tested, before being allowed to join the larger society.

Also speaking, state Commissioner of Police, Bola Longe, said with the state registering its index case, the police and other security agencies, will be more stringent in enforcing all proclamations and regulations.

“We want to appeal to the people of the state, to be mindful of the way they are flouting the regulation. We will arrest anybody flouting the regulation,” the CP warned.

He disclosed that so far, the police have arrested over 400 persons and will arrest more, especially with the banning of inter state movement by the Federal Government.

The CP said all entry and exit points to the state will be heavily manned and all violators of the restriction of movement will be arrested.