As FCTA Alerts Residents of Fake COVID-19 Inspectors
Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has launched a manhunt for criminal syndicate who allegedly parade themselves as COVID-19 Inspectors to defraud event planners in the nation’s capital.
This syndicates move around the city to extort money from event planners and other residents in guise of COVID-19 enforcement officers.
Speaking on behalf of the Ministerial Task Force on COVID-19 Enforcement, the Head of Media and Enlightenment Comrade Ikharo Attah hinted that, the FCT Administration deemed it necessary to quickly alert residents of the nation’s capital of the activities of fraudsters.
He, however, admitted being inundated with such negative reports , while warning the public to be wary of such criminal elements who parade themselves as agents of government, but are not.
He also debunked the rumours that members of his Taskforce were involved in the criminal act.
Attah further stated that neither the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19 nor the FCTA have authorised anyone to penalize violators of the health guidelines.
He stated that , it is only the Mobile Courts constituted by the FCT Administration that has the right to penalize violators.
According to him , any group of persons found extorting money from members of the public under any guise should be reported to the appropriate authorities, as such activities remain illegal.
” We actually work on the platform of integrity having been set up together by the FCT Minister, Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello under the chairmanship of the FCT Police Commissioner, Bala Ciroma, we don’t go out asking people for money on issues relating to COVID-19 guidelines.
” We actually avoid going to meet people to ask them to give us money for whatever. But it’s quite disheartening and disturbing that we have heard such rumours before now, that people go round in the name of COVID-19 enforcement.
He continued; ” We don’t have any office or any person like COVID-19 inspection officer, who we have assigned to go round. The commissioner of police who is our chairman have not approved such kind of officers to round. All those in this act should desist from it. The PTF at the national level had given the COVID-19 guidelines and protocols for us to observe.
” There are events that they have allowed to operate here, and many events including schools are opened, but it’s just that they have some restrictions on the number or whatever that people should do.”
