Lockdown: Governor prosecutes 14 persons, auctions seized trucks, cattle

* Trespassers claim they paid security agencies N1,500 to breach closed borders in Rivers State

* State Government convicts 170 other defaulters of lockdown order

Alexander Davis | ConsumerConnect

For apparent breach of the ongoing lockdown to curb the spread of COVID-19 epidemic in the state, Mr. Nyesom Wike, Governor of Rivers State, has ordered the prosecution of 14 persons who transported cattle from Adamawa State, in Northern Nigeria, into Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital.

Wike had directed the closure of the state’s borders, and lockdown of Port Harcourt and Obio Akpor Local Government Areas in the fight against Coronavirus pandemic.

The governor also ordered auction of the impounded cattle and two trucks in which they were conveyed after intercepting them at Rumuigbo, Obio Akpor LGA in the early hours Friday, May 8, reports Vanguard.

Ahmed Aliyu, one of arrested persons, said they were engaged from Adamawa to bring in the cattle to the new slaughter in Oyigbo, Rivers State.

Aliyu disclosed that they paid N1, 500 to security agents to breach the state’s closed borders while heading for Rivers.

Wike, commenting on the development, said: “This fight has nothing to do with individuals. The law must take its course.

“Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor are under lockdown, and the law must be obeyed. The trailers and the cows will be auctioned tomorrow.

“You heard them saying they gave money to security agencies before they were allowed to cross the border. The owner of the cattle on the phone admitted they have fallen short of the law.”

He stated that he received the information on their movement following intelligence gathered from “well-meaning Nigerians”.

Wike, however, did not remark on how the informants would get the N100,000 reward he earlier promised any whistleblowers over breach of the state COVID-19 restrictions.

The governor also has directed the State Ministry of Health to conduct tests on the 14 persons to ascertain their Coronavirus status, according to the report.

Meanwhile, a Mobile Court sitting at the COVID-19 Elekahia Isolation Centre, in Port Harcourt, thus far has convicted 170 defaulters of the lockdown imposed by Rivers State Government on Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas (LGAs) over Coronavirus disease.

It was learnt that the Office of the Attorney-General of Rivers Thursday, May 7, dragged the offenders to the court for alleged breach of Executive Order RVSG 06 2020.

The state edict imposes the lockdown, prohibiting human and vehicular movement in the Port Harcourt metropolis during the period.

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