Imams and Islamic leaders in Bayelsa state have been told to take personal responsibility of their respective worship centres by ensuring the enforcement of all guidelines on the covid-19 pandemic.
This was among some of the resolutions reached at a meeting between members of the security subcommittee of the state task force on covid-19 and Islamic leaders in Yenagoa.
The meeting according to Dr Boma Spero-Jack, Technical Assistant on Security was necessitated by the non-observance of covid-19 guidelines by worshippers at last Friday’s jumat prayers at the Arietalin Road Central Mosque and other prayer centres in the state capital.
Social distancing, use of face masks and handwashing or use of sanitizers were not observed by worshippers.
Dr Spero-Jack emphasized that the approved guidelines by the government including the compulsory wearing of face masks is still enforced and the taskforce has a duty to ensure that all religious leaders and their followers adhered to the measures.
He warned against a spillover of worshippers to the road, thereby obstructing traffic during prayers and explained that the guidelines issued by the government were applicable to all worship centres and are not targeted at religious leaders but rather aimed at containing the spread of the pandemic in the state.
The Technical Assistant on Security recalled that nine churches were earlier sealed and the pastors arrested for failure to adhere to the prescribed protocols.
Dr Spero-Jack warned that the task force will not hesitate to seal any worship centre that refuses to adhere to the guidelines and take stern measures against its leaders as the taskforce has ramped up it’s monitoring efforts to mosques on Fridays and churches on Sundays being the only days allowed for worship in the face of the pandemic.
Other speakers from the task force urged the Imams to educate their congregation on the need to observe the measures to contain the pandemic.
The statement signed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Orientation and member Bayelsa State Taskforce on Covid-19, Freston Akpor, urged them to take personal responsibility without being compelled to do so.
In their separate remarks, the over twenty Islamic leaders promised to be abreast with the guidelines and keep their followers informed.
