Fierce looking security men from all arms of security agencies were on Tuesday seen battle ready at some markets in Abuja that were ordered to close by a mobile court of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).
The Abuja mobile court ordered the closure of Wuse Market in Zone five for flouting the FCTA COVID-19 prevention regulations. UTC market and the Murg Shopping Plaza in Area 10, Garki were also sealed off by the court.
The FCT COVID-19 Task Force visited the markets on Monday and discovered there were no infrared thermometer checks, and no facemask or hand sanitiser used by traders in the market.
The task force hitherto arrested individuals within the markets and in public vehicles for not using observing COVID-19 protocols, and prosecuted them at the mobile court inside Eagle Square.
While the Wuse and the UTC markets, and the Murg Shopping Plaza were ordered to close by the court after the hearing, the people prosecuted were fined N2000 each, because they were first time offenders and those who couldn’t afford to pay the fine were sentenced to two weeks community service.
In implementing the closure order of the court, the fierce looking security men were seen battle ready at the gates of the markets, while citizens hang around corners helplessly.