COVID-19: Benue repatriates destitute to own states

The Benue state Action Committee on COVID-19 on Thursday sent back the first batch of 58 persons, mostly destitute youths, suspected to have been trafficked into the state back to their home states.

The state Deputy Governor and Chairman of the state COVID-19 Committee, Benson Abounu, who led the task force during the exercise within Makurdi metropolis, said the youths had been brought to the state in violation of the lockdown measures and had to be returned to the safety of their homes.

The deputy governor disclosed that the committee had provided transportation, security and documentation to facilitate the safe passage of the affected persons to their home states.

“Face masks were also handed to the destitute youths after they had been put through an orientation on safety tips necessary for them to avoid contacting and spreading the coronavirus to other persons,” he stated.

According to him, the partial lockdown in the state remains in force, warning that anyone found violating it will face appropriate sanctions.

He pointed out that all measures necessary to keep the state free of the coronavirus will be implemented with due diligence, adding that all destitute persons from other states found in the state will be returned to their homes.

READ ALSO: COVID-19: NAFDAC guides firms on donation, sale of breast milk substitutes

The deputy governor called on people to close ranks and support the administration of Governor Samuel Ortom whom he said has given tremendous support to the committee to enable it win the war against COVID-19 in the state.

It will be recalled that following the forceful return of non-indigenes by Kano state government to their respective states, many people of northern extraction have arrived Benue state and camped at the Wadata area of the state.

This, it was gathered prompted the state government to also force them back to their respective states as a way of checking the spread of the coronavirus.