Rivers state governor Nyesom Wike has rewarded a local vigilante with 5 million naira for ensuring effective lockdown compliance in the community, he also announced the list of cars ready for auction.  

The governor gave Rumigbo community vigilante the cash reward for their “show of courage and patriotism.” The local vigilante had intercepted a lorry-load of livestock with 50 persons who illegally entered the State in violation of the lockdown orders. 

Wike had announced a total lockdown and dusk to dawn curfew on Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas to curtail the spread of the coronavirus in the State effective May 7. 

In his statewide broadcast on May 8, Wike said: “as a Government, a strong one for that matter, we have the responsibility to act decisively on the side of the law to safeguard the safety of our State and its residents.” 

He said his administration would deal decisively on those who choose “to put themselves and the larger public at the risk of infection with their irresponsible show of disobedience to our restrictions on human and vehicular movements during the lockdown.”

“What we can assure everyone is that all those arrested for violating the relevant Executive Orders would certainly have their day in court and due process would be the hallmark of any punishment that they may suffer if duly convicted as prescribed by our ordinary laws.”

Wike, who had earlier warned that any vehicle impounded for flouting the lockdown in the State would be auctioned, announced the first set of vehicles to be auctioned by the Deputy Sheriff of the State High Court.

They are IVICO Truck with Reg. No. KBK 336 XA; DAF Truck with Reg. No. Adanawa MUB 20 YH; HOWO Truck with Reg. No. Adamawa HNG 608 XA; and DAF Truck with Regi. No. PKM 48594 XA.

READ MORE BREAKING: OGUN EXTENDS LOCKDOWN BY ANOTHER 7 DAYS

Wike Indicts the Police

Governor wike during the statewide address indicted the Deputy Commissioner of Police of indiscriminately issuing movement pass to companies and individuals in utter contempt and direct violation of the lockdown orders of the State.

The Rivers State Governor complained that the “borders continue to experience serial acts of sabotage by security operatives, who allow, and in some cases, personally aid persons with risky COVID-19 status into the State.”

“As the COVID-19 pandemic begins to graduate and make its way through the State, these actions, inactions and counter-actions from the security agencies are rather amplifying the risk of a public health disaster in our State,” he said. 

“ As recently as yesterday, we intercepted a lorry-load of livestock with 22 persons who bribed their ways into Rivers State from as far as Adamawa State despite the Federal Government’s claimed restriction on inter-state travels and our definitive closure of all entry routes into the State.”

The governor reiterated his commitment to ensuring that the lives of all residents in the State are safe.