Operatives of the Ekiti State Task Force on COVID-19 have shut down a popular hotel in Ado Ekiti for violating COVID-19 directives.
An elaborate wedding party attended by a large crowd of guests in which physical distancing was not observed landed the hotel in trouble.
The hotel, located on Ilawe road in the state capital, was also sealed for breaching government’s order on lockdown during weekends.
The unexpected swoop on the hotel by the Task Force brought the wedding to an abrupt end.
Some of the guests fled on sighting security men on the team.
The hotel has since become desolate as the two main gates leading to the complex and glass doors leading to its reception were firmly locked at the time our correspondent visited on Sunday.
The Coordinator of Ekiti State COVID-19 Task Force, Prof. Bolaji Aluko, said the operatives acted on a tip off the hotel contravened government’s regulations of gathering more than 20 persons.
He warned residents, especially owners of relaxation centres against violating the COVID-19 regulations.
Aluko said: “We got a report that a wide and an elaborate wedding party was held at the hotel and we swung into action to know the veracity of the claim.
“Then we discovered that the hotel actually broke the COVID-19 protocols.
We sent security operatives to go there and check and when the team went to check, they saw a large crowd of people in the hotel eating and drinking.”
Aluko however declined to reveal whether arrests were made during the raid, stressing the Task Force closed down the hotel for violation of COVID-19 regulations.
Efforts to speak with the hotel manager were unsuccessful as his mobile phone remained switched off as at press time.
