COVID-19: Wike inaugurates task force on border closure
Determined to protect the people of Rivers state from coronavirus pandemic, otherwise known as COVID-19, the state Governor, Nyesom Wike, on Thursday inaugurated the state task force on border closure.
Governor Wike also announced that one of the new cases at the state’s treatment centre, came from the oil rig of one of the oil companies.
The state government resolved to establish the task force on border closure following cases of sabotage at the state boundaries, where security personnel are allegedly allowing unauthorized people access to the state, without the mandatory health checks.
Inaugurating the task force, Governor Wike said: “This task force is very important. When they don’t want you to live, you must devise means to survive.”
Governor Wike said that most of the new cases in the state are people who slipped through the border and were allowed in by the security agencies.
He told members of the task force: “You have to support the security agencies and don’t allow anyone to get into the state without approval.
“Anyone coming into the state must be screened by the health officials. Don’t join the security agencies to extort money from people. If that happens, the essence of this task force is defeated.”
He charged the task force to work as if they were struggling to save their own lives as the state was being sabotaged from all sides.
“We are being sabotaged at sea, land, and at the domestic wing of the airport. Sometimes, they secretly receive flights and before we know the people sneak into the town. The task force in Ikwerre must check anyone coming from the airport.
“When we shout, they say we are fighting the federal government. All we are saying is help us to fight the virus. This is a matter of life and death. You must protect your people.
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“This is a non-conventional war, which has nothing to do with politics.”
He charged the task force to always carry their identity cards, adding that there would be no excuses from the operatives and charged them to run 24 hours.
He continued: “We will not relax because if coronavirus escalates in this state, we will not get any form of support.”
Responding on behalf of the task force members, Donald Frank assured Governor Wike that the operatives would work hard to carry out his directives.
