Rivers State Governor, Nyesome Wike, says that 22 Exxon Mobil staff have been arrested for flouting the lockdown order in the state.
The Governor stated that the arrested workers came into Rivers from neighbouring state, Akwa Ibom, thus going against the State’s Executive Order restricting movement to contain spread of COVID-19.
Wike who revealed this during a live broadcast in Port Harcourt disclosed that the oil workers were apprehended on Thursday by security personnel along the Ogoni-Akwa Ibom axis of Rivers State.
“Security agencies arrested 22 staff of Exxon Mobil 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.
“As a responsive government, we have quarantined them in line with the relevant health protocols and they will be charged to court,” he said.
The Rivers State Governor noted that health protection of the people of Rivers State is his priority especially at this period of a pandemic.
He also vowed to prosecute the Exxon Mobil workers.
“The right thing must be done. We are talking about something that is killing people. They want coronavirus to escalate in Rivers State. The law must be tested. Make sacrifice and let us contain the virus.”
Governor Wike also announced that the second case of the virus in Rivers State has been discharged
