Officials of the Rivers State Government have apprehended 22 traders for entering the state from Abia and Anambra states thereby disobeying the state’s directive on border closure enacted to curtail the spread of coronavirus pandemic.
The traders, who were arrested in three sets, claimed they were not aware that the lockdown was serious in Rivers State, as they were still allowed to move around in their own states.
The female traders were conveyed in a container to conceal their movement into the state.
Chike Princewill, the state’s commissioner for health said that the 22 traders would be screened to ascertain their coronavirus status.
He said that the screening was vital to ensure that they did not infect the state adding that his ministry stationed medical personnel to carry out the responsibility.
He said after the screening, the traders would be tried in line with the extant laws in place to protect Rivers people.
Princewill said it was embarrassing that a transporter would convey human beings in a container, just to beat the law.
The accused persons were later tried in a magistrate court assigned for that purpose by the Chief Judge of Rivers State
