Kwara State Government on Thursday ordered total lockdown in all parts of the state as from Friday in a bid to control the spread of COVID-19.

The state had on Tuesday imposed a lockdown on Offa following the death of a COVID-19 patient, Muideen Obanimomo, at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital last week.

The patient was buried in Offa.

At a press conference in Ilorin, state Deputy Governor and Chairman of Technical Committee on COVID-19, Mr Kayode Alabi, who announced the lockdown, said violators of the order would be prosecuted.

Alabi said,

“Total restriction of movements of the people and vehicles including private cars is to be effected in all local government areas of the state with effect from 6 pm on Friday, April 10, 2020.

“The vehicles exempted from this order are vehicles carrying goods and services such as food and drugs and categories earlier exempted in a recent address by President Muhammadu Buhari.”