Lockdown: Wike sets up task force on border closure

By TONY JOHN, Port Harcourt

Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike has inaugurated the state Taskforce on Border Closure in his determined commitment to protect Rivers people from Coronavirus.

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.

Wike said the state government resolved to establish the Task Force on Border Closure following cases of sabotage at the state boundaries, where security personnel allowed 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”.

He said that most of the new cases in the state were people who slipped through the border and were allowed in  by the security agencies.

He said: “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”, the governor appealed.

He charged the task force to work as if they were struggling to save their own lives. He said the assignment was necessary because of sabotage experienced by the state.

“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”, he said.

The governor reiterated that fight against COVID-19 spread was a non-conventional war, which has nothing to do with politics.

He charged the task force members to always carry their identity cards.  He said there would be no excuses from the operatives and charged them to run 24 hours.

He said: “We will not relax because if coronavirus escalates in this state, we will not get any form of support”.

On the recent cases, Governor Wike pinned one to the oil workers at the rig.

“Most of these oil companies also sabotage us. One of the cases at the State Treatment Centre is an oil worker who came from the rig.

“He tested positive and now our health workers are tracing all his contacts to check the spread”, Wike disclosed.

Responding on behalf of the Task Force on Border Closure, Donald Frank assured Governor Wike that the operatives would work hard to carry out his directive. (Daily Sun)