Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers, has accused a deputy
commissioner of police, whose identity he did not disclose, of sabotaging the
efforts of the state government during the lockdown.
The governor had ordered a 24-hour lockdown in Port Harcourt
and Obi Akpor local government areas of the state to prevent the spread of
coronavirus.
But on Thursday night, local security guards intercepted a
truck and 22 persons at Rumuigbo community.
In a broadcast on Friday, Wike expressed concern over the
“outrageous actions of our enemies who continue to destabilise the fight
against the spread of COVID-19 in our state”.
The governor said COVID-19 cases in the state may rise,
blaming this on the “hypocrisy” of the federal government and sabotage by
security agencies.
He said the state’s
borders continue to experience “serial acts of sabotage by security
operatives”, who allow, and in some cases, personally aid persons with “risky”
COVID-19 status into the state.
“As recently as yesterday, we intercepted a lorry-load of
livestock with 22 persons who bribed their ways into Rivers State from as far
as Adamawa State despite the Federal Government’s claimed restriction on
inter-state travels and our definitive closure of all entry routes into the
State,” he said.
“Even today, we intercepted, yet, another 8 trucks with 200
persons hidden in loads of grains and being smuggled into the State from the
northern parts of the country.
 |
| Wike at Rumuigbo community shortly after a truck conveying livestock from Adamawa was intercepted with “22 persons” inside |
“Indeed, the extent of sabotage was such that, even a Deputy
Commissioner of Police unilaterally appropriated and exercised powers to
illegally issue movement pass to individuals and companies indiscriminately in
utter contempt and direct violation of the lockdown orders of the State
Government.
“And so, as the COVID-19 pandemic begins to graduate and
make its way through the State, these actions, inactions and counter-actions
from the security agencies are rather amplifying the risk of a public health
disaster in our State.
“This being so, it has become imperative to alert the State
and indeed, the entire world, of the fact that a dangerous escalation of COVID-19
pandemic in Rivers State looms large in our horizon due largely to the
hypocrisy of the Federal Government and the continuous acts of willful sabotage
by security agencies.”
He said those arrested for breaking into Rivers are
“barefaced liars” who have sinister motive, commending the local security
guards who intercepted them.
The governor also announced a reward of N5 million for the
local guards.
“Truth be told, those who claim to be conveying essential
food items into the State during this period of total lockdown who are up to
something more sinister,” he said.
“They illegally entered the state in violation of the
lockdown orders. How and who can they sell their items to when all the markets,
hotels and business outfits in the state have been closed down? Let all be
warned that we’ll have none of such tricks in Rivers State at this very trying
period.”
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