Osun State Government on Sunday raised alarm that some criminals were asking citizens to submit their voter card or Bank Verification Number in exchange for relief items during the stay-at-home period.
A statement signed by the Secretary to Osun State Government, Prince Wole Oyebamiji, said those behind the move wanted to explore the ban on movement and gathering to prevent spread of coronavirus in the state to take advantage of unsuspecting citizens.
Describing the information as false, the government declared that it had not asked its citizens to submit their security details in exchange for money.
It asked the citizens to ignore the message.
The statement read, “Attention has been drawn to the activities of criminally-minded people who are taking advantage of the COVID-19 outbreak to ask unsuspecting citizens to submit their voter’s cards or BVN details in exchange for money or other social relief items during the stay-at-home order.
“This information is false. The Osun State Government is not asking anyone for his/her personal security details in exchange for money. Please ignore this messaging making the rounds and spread the word.”
Meanwhile, Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, has warned Nigerians to exercise precautions in handling money to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
The royal father in a statement by Alli Ibraheem, his press secretary, said one of the prevalent means the deadly virus could be contracted was through money.
He implored Nigerians, especially traders to always use gloves while counting or exchanging naira notes.