Rivers govt arrests 22 ExxonMobil staff for allegedly violating COVID-19 restriction order

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, Friday confirmed the arrest of 22 workers of ExxonMobil who allegedly entered the state in contravention of the State Executive Order on COVID-19.

Wike, who disclosed this in a live broadcast in Port Harcourt, said the oil workers were arrested by security agents along the Ogoni-Akwa Ibom axis of Rivers State Thursday.

He said the same law that was applied during the arrest of Caverton Helicopter pilots would be applied in the case of the oil workers.

Wike, however, said Caverton Helicopters had apologised to the state government over the conduct that led to the arrest of its pilots and 10 passengers.

He said: “Security agencies arrested 22 staff of ExxonMobil who came into the state from neighbouring Akwa Ibom State in violation of the extant Executive Order restricting movement into the state. We do not know the coronavirus status of these individuals.

“Even though security agencies advised that they be allowed to go back to Akwa Ibom State, I insisted that the law must take its course. This is because nobody is above the law.

READ ALSO: Cross River health college workers suspend strike

“As a responsive government, we have quarantined them in line with the relevant health protocols and they will be charged to court. The same law that was applied in the case of Caverton will also apply to ExxonMobil.”

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