Anyone who refused to wear face mask in Ekiti State beginning from today, risks arrest and prosecution, Governor Kayode Fayemi warned at the weekend.

Governor Fayemi said the drastic step was to contain the most dangerous stage of the COVID-19 which is community transmission of the virus. He expressed grave concern over non-compliance with COVID-19 protocols in the state.

The governor, who spoke through the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Olawale Fapohunda, in Ado Ekiti, on Sunday, said mobile courts had been established to prosecute and impose sanctions such as fines and community services on defaulters.

Fayemi, who also described as unacceptable residents’ disbelief that pandemic is not real, said the state government would as from Monday begin enforcement of the COVID-19 regulations with appropriate sanctions for violators of use of face mask and social distancing.

Fapohunda said: “Mr Governor is very concerned about what appears to us to be widespread lack of compliance with the COVID-19 regulations in Ekiti State, particularly with the wearing of face masks.