COVID-19: Wike blames new cases in Rivers on corrupt security agents, warns task force

Governor Nyesom Wike has blamed bribe-taking security agents for new cases of COVID-19 in Rivers State.

He stated this on Thursday when he inaugurated COVID-19 Border Task Force in the state.

According to the governor, new COVID-19 cases the state had recorded, after its index case, were people security agents allegedly extorted and allowed entrance into the state.

He, therefore, warned the new border task force not to join security agents in collecting bribe and not to allow anyone to get into the state without approval.

He wrote on his official Twitter account, @GovWike:

“This Task Force is very important. When they don’t want you to live, you must devise means to survive.

“Most of the new cases in the state are people who slipped through the border and were allowed in by the security agencies.

“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.

“We are being sabotaged at sea, land and at the Domestic Wing of the airport. Sometimes, they secretly receive flights and before we know they 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.

“This is a non-conventional war, which has nothing to do with politics.

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

READ ALSO: COVID-19: Kaduna govt laments, says all 16 new cases are Almajiris from Kano

“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.”

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now