Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom says Government will soon start clamping down on churches or anyone flaunting Government guidelines aimed at combating the spread of COVID-19 in the state.
Governor Ortom stated this today in Government House Makurdi during the inauguration of Local Government Acting Committees on COVID-19.
The Governor lamented that some people, especially churches have decided to undermine Government directives even when the Bible admonished them clearly to subject to civil authorities.
He noted that the conditions spelt out by the Government to help tame the spread of the virus was not to punish the people but save them from a pandemic that has brought the entire world on its knees.
Governor Ortom charged the Adviser on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to make five million naira available to each of the Local Government committees to enhance their work.
The Chairman of the State Action Committee on COVID-19 and Deputy Governor Engineer Abounu who later inaugurated the local Government action committee enumerated some of the measures taken to contain the virus.
According to Engineer Abounu, the closure of borders, open markets, night clubs among other measures would prevent the spread of the pandemic and urged the people to strictly adhere to them in the interest of the state.
The Tor Tiv, Professor James Ayatse suggested that traditional rulers be made part of the Local Government Action Committee and enjoined the Government to design palliative for the people in the face of the impending lock down.
Correspondent Terna Injua reports that the Local Government Action Committee on COVID-19 would be headed by the chairmen of the councils with the second class chiefs in the area as their deputies.