COVID-19: Gombe Gov Bans Congregational Prayers To Curb Virus Spread
- ‘Achaba’ also affected
- Restricts ‘Keke NAPEP’
BY ADEYEMI AKANJI, GOMBE – The Gombe Governor, Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has banned congregational prayers and motorcycle operators as additional measures aimed at curtailing the spread of coronavirus in the state.
According to the governor, effective 6pm of Monday, April 27, 2020, all calls to Muslim prayers are allowed only to notify the faithful of the time for prayers and not for observing congregational prayers in the mosques.
Similarly, all Muazzins (persons responsible for calls to prayers) have been directed to clearly mention and emphasize (in Arabic and local languages) that people should observe all prayers in their respective homes.
The addiyional measures also cover ban on all Commercial Motorcycles operations, popularly called Achaba throughout the state, while Tricycles (Keke NAPEP) operators are allowed to carry only one adult passenger at a time.
The Governor further stated that in line with the advisory from Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), everyone is strongly advised to, at all the times, wear face mask as part of the precautionary safety measures when appearing in public.
The latest directives are contained in a statement signed by Ismaila Uba Misilli, Senior Special Assistant (SSA), Media and Publicity to the Governor released in Gombe, the State capital on Monday.
Competent sources told Forefront News that the Gombe government is being forced to introduce these additional measures in order to stem the spread of coronavirus in the North East state.
According to figures released by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) as at Sunday, April 26, 2020, Gombe State recorded five (5) additional positive cases, bringing the total number of positive index cases in the state to 35 as at Monday, April 27, 2020.
