Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has imposed a total lockdown of Bonny Local Government Area and Onne Community effective Sunday, June 21 to curb the spread of the Coronavirus. 

This is coming barely a week after Eons Intelligence reported that a bank was shutdown when one person died, and at least 2 staff members of a bank at Onne tested positive to Coronavirus. 

The Governor announced this during a statewide broadcast on Saturday, June 20. 

Henceforth, only residents on essential duties in these areas are permitted to leave their houses and all entry and exits points that lead to the communities have been closed. 

The Governor also directed security operatives to arrest and prosecute anyone found flouting this directive. 

"All gatherings, including religious, burial and wedding activities are prohibited. All entry and exit into the two communities, except those on essential services and duly permitted, are also banned. Security agencies have been directed to enforce the lockdown by arresting and prosecuting anyone who dares to disobey these directives," the Governor said. 

With Rivers State current record of 866 positive cases out of 2572 tested samples and 30 deaths, Governor Wike expressed worry that the state might become the next epicentre of the virus in the South-south region of the country.

Rivers is currently the state with the fourth-highest number of Coronavirus cases in the country.

Wike Admonished residents to brace up to the reality of having new infections and a couple of deaths in the coming weeks and months."

He also urged residents to treat the Coronavirus with all seriousness and follow the NCDC guidelines.

"When we recognised that effective early response was key to preventing the virus from progressing deep, we introduced drastic measures to protect our citizens.

"Unfortunately, some people deliberately twisted our intentions, maligned our timely measures and exploited the attendant temporary hardship on our people to further their selfish political drives.

"Today, I am sure with the daily worrisome number of new infections and the fear of possible calamitous community transmission, everyone is now seeing the needless politicization of the fight against Coronavirus.

"Nevertheless, we are encouraged by the fact that the virus can effectively be stopped from spreading further, if only we all submit to the prescribed guidelines on social distancing as a matter of strict responsibility, he stated.