The Kaduna State government has announced the arrest of two Muslim clerics for conducting congregational prayers amidst the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
In a tweet on Saturday, the government said the two clerics, Malam Aminu Umar Usman and Malam Umar Shangel, will be prosecuted for violating the state public health preventive measures against the COVID-19.
The tweet reads: “KADUNA UPDATE: Two clerics have been arrested for conducting congregational prayers in violation of Kaduna State public health preventive measures,” the tweet read.
“A KDSG statement said that Malam Aminu Umar Usman and Malam Umar Shangel will be prosecuted.”
KADUNA UPDATE: Two clerics have been arrested for conducting congregational prayers in violation of Kaduna State public health preventive measures. A KDSG statement said that Malam Aminu Umar Usman and Malam Umar Shangel will be prosecuted
— Governor Kaduna (@GovKaduna) March 28, 2020
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that the arrest came two days after the state government announced a 24-hour curfew to curb the spread of the disease.
During a state broadcast on Tuesday, the state Deputy Governor, Hadiza Balarabe, ordered residents to stay inside their homes from dusk to dawn beginning from Thursday night.
She said the curfew was necessary because residents had ignored previous measures put in place by the government to curb the spread of the disease.
“From midnight of Thursday, 26th March 2020, all residents of Kaduna State must stay at home. No offices, businesses of any sort or places of worship are allowed to open,” Balarabe said.
“The only category of persons exempted are workers in essential services such as health workers, the fire service and security personnel.
“Churches and mosques will be shut, there will no congregational prayers or services either within these places of worship or outdoors.”
