Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, on Monday, raised an alarm over plans to secretly move Almajiris to the state within the “next 24 hours”.
A statement made available to Igbere TV by the Commissioner for Information, Chief John Okiyi stated that reports available to the government indicate that they are leaving their state this night to arrive Abia State tomorrow.
The statement added that the State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, has therefore directed all security agencies in the state, especially those posted to inter-state boundary communities, members of the State and LGAs enforcement task force teams as well as the inter-ministerial committee on COVID-19, to ensure that within this period of the subsisting border closure necessitated by the coronavirus pandemic, no individual or group is allowed to enter the state, aside from those duly exempted, from any other part of the country.
The Governor also directs men and officers of the State Homeland Security Ministry to deploy immediately to relevant inter-state boundary communities to ensure there is no unauthorized entry.
He said : “We wish to reemphasize that traditional rulers and TC Chairmen of inter-state boundary communities will be held responsible and sanctioned for any of such unauthorized entry into the state. All necessary lawful measures must be taken to stop the entry of not only the almajiris but also other unlawful migrants into the state till the FG-backed inter-state border closure regulation put in place to control spread of COVID-19 from one state to another is lifted.”
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