Benue State Deputy Governor and Chairman of the state’s COVID-19 Committee, Mr. Benson Abounu, has ordered the impounding of a truck conveying limestone and motorcycles, with 17 persons stowed away inside its cargo hold.
According to a report signed by Mr. Bemgba Iortyom, member (Risk Communication Pillar), Benue COVID-19 Committee, the impounded truck was intercepted at Yelwata, a boundary entry point between Benue and Nasarawa State.
He explained that members of the Covid-19 Committee were escorting, out of the state, a tanker earlier intercepted conveying 11 motorcycles and 7 Almajiris.
He said when questioned, the driver of the impounded truck said he was conveying the goods he had on board to Port-Harcourt from Plateau State, and was to drop his passengers in a number of states on his way in the East.
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Some of the passengers who claimed ownership of some of the motorcycles narrated that they were on their way to the East to operate commercial cycle business known as okada.
The truck has been put under the custody of the Nigeria Police Command in the state, while its passengers will be sent back to their states of origin.
Meanwhile, Mr. Abounu has directed that henceforth, all vehicles entering the state in violation of the ban on inter-state travel will be impounded by the Committee and the owners of such vehicles fined heavily.
He said the act will deter and curb further illegal entry of unwanted persons into the state and ultimately brighten the chances of keeping Benue free of further cases of COVID-19.
