Simeon Nwakaudu, Special Assistant to Wike said the trailers were intercepted at Rumuigbo in Obio-Akpor LGA, based on intelligence provided the governor.
Read Also: Vehicles Impounded During Lockdown Will Be Sold – Wike
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 test them to ascertain their coronavirus status.
The cattle, trailer and people arrested by Wike
“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”, Wike said.
“The Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor are under lockdown and the law must be obeyed. The trailers and the cows will be auctioned tomorrow. ”
Governor Wike said that the arrest of the trailers has vindicated him over complaints of sabotage by security agencies, in checking the spread of coronavirus.
He accused the security agencies of failing the people of Rivers State as they collect money and allow defaulters to slip through the border.
“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.
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.
He said that the State Government will 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 will start by 10pm.
He informed the governor that the trailers were allowed to enter the state after they bribed security personnel with N1,500.
NAN
