Wike arrests 14 persons hiding inside 2 trailers

…Orders their prosecution and testing for coronavirus

…Declares that the trailers, cattle will be auctioned

As the lockdown in parts of Rivers state continues, the Governor, Nyesom Wike, on Thursday effected the arrests of 14 persons hidden in two trailers conveying cattle from Adamawa state to Port Harcourt in spite of the border closure.

Governor Wike said that the trailers were intercepted following intelligence from well-meaning Nigerians that the trailers were making their way to Port Harcourt.

They were arrested at Rumuigbo in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.

Wike ordered the prosecution of the 14 persons by the mobile court constituted by the administration under the Executive Order 6 signed for the declaration of the lockdown.

He also directed the state ministry of health to conduct tests on the 14 persons to ascertain their coronavirus status.

He said: “This fight has nothing to do with individuals. The law must take its course. You are aware of what is happening and then some people want to illegally smuggle persons into the state.

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

Governor Wike said that the arrest of the trailers had vindicated him, reiterating that the security agencies had failed the people of Rivers state as they allegedly collect money and allowed defaulters to slip through the borders.

“You heard them saying that they gave money to the security agencies before they were allowed to cross the border. The owner of the cattle in the phone interview said they have fallen short of the law,” he said.

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Governor Wike said that people must be alive to eat cow, hence the lockdown to protect the lives of Rivers people.

He decried the level of desperation to smuggle people into Rivers state, adding that the state government would remain vigilant, despite the challenges it is facing.

One of the defaulters, Ahmed Aliyu, said that they were contracted from Adamawa state to bring cattle to one alhaji at the new slaughter in Oyigbo. He said that he thought that the lockdown would start by 10pm.

He alleged that they moved into the state after they allegedly bribed security personnel with N1, 500.