Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has directed state officials to beat residents who do not wear face masks, POLITICS NIGERIA reports.
The governor gave the directive on Wednesday while addressing a meeting of stakeholders at the Government House in Abakaliki, the state capital.
Umahi said the decision to cane residents who leave their houses without wearing face masks is part of efforts to curtail the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the state.
He added that he has ordered the local government chairmen to use their men to inflict the minimum compliance on residents.
The governor warned that there will be no public movement if residents don’t wear face masks in the state.
He said: “If you don’t have a face mask and you are out, you will be caned.
“I am directing the local government chairmen to use their men to inflict the minimum compliance which is the cane.
“No face mask, you will attract cane, it doesn’t matter who you are. If you are a big man and you are coming outside and you do not have a face mask, you will face trouble and the law is very clear about that.”
