By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

Four persons have been nabbed in Onitsha for allegedly claiming to be officials of the Anambra State Ministry of Health and distributing COVID-19 products to unsuspecting members of the public.

The suspects include Anthony Chidubem Oyatubo (30) of Nimo, Njikoka LGA, Nwachukwu Chidi (31) of Awka, Chris C. Okeke (30) and Olisa Moura (25) of Onitsha.

The State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Haruna Mohammed, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday.

According to him, the suspects were arrested with several surgical hand sanitisers, masks produced locally under unhygienic conditions.

Mohammed said: “The syndicates were apprehended by police operatives attached to Central Police Station Onitsha following intelligence report.

“Suspects who allegedly claimed to be officials of the Ministry of Health, fully kitted with reflective jackets and caps with inscriptions “FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19” were arrested with flyers, hand sanitisers and face masks which they produced locally under unhygienic conditions and selling the products to the unsuspecting members of the public as well as distributing same to various outlets in Onitsha before their arrests.

“Meanwhile, preliminary investigation revealed that suspects were neither government workers nor health officials as they claimed but misguided elements who took advantage of the present pandemic situation to market their unhygienic products to the oblivious buyers.”

Mohammed reeled out exhibits recovered from the suspects to include, over 50 nose masks, three cartons of hand sanitisers, flyers, several reflective jackets, and four caps. He assured that the suspects would be charged to court on completion of after investigation.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police (CP) John Abang has urged the public to be wary of such syndicates and refrain from patronising them in order not to expose themselves to other health hazards.