Eleven passengers from Sokoto arrested in Ibadan for defying lockdown order

Segun Showunmi in Ibadan

The Oyo State Police Command has apprehended  eleven travellers from Sokoto, for allegedly defying the inter-state lockdown order of the  Federal Government, and attempted  to sneak into Akure, Ondo State Capital.

Penpushing reports that, the Commissioner of Police, Sina Olukolu made this known, while briefing Governor Seyi Makinde on his return from at Gbagi Police Station, where the travelers were detained overnight, explaining  that they were apprehended at the Asejire Dam axis of the Ibadan-Osun boundary.

The police boss said that the suspects claimed that they were travelling from Sokoto enroute  Akure, Ondo State, emphasizing further that, the travelers would remain isolated until the results of their coronavirus tests were received from the state.

Penpushing further reports that,the driver of the bus, who identified himself as Muhammad Idris, said they passed through old roads and bushes from Sokoto to Niger and Kwara and then got into Ogbomoso, from where they entered Ibadan, adding that, they were going to Akure “to reconcile with their family

The Governor in response declared that the travelers will not be released to the Sokoto State Government until they undergo coronavirus tests, adding that, “we are not able to explain how they got here in the first place because there is inter-state lockdown throughout the country. They claimed they came from Sokoto and they must have passed through so many states.”

Penpushing also reports that, Makinde disclosed that  he has given directives to the effect that the travellers would be kept isolated in Ibadan until the results of their coronavirus  tests are received, explaining that he was in touch with  Sokoto State counterpart, Governor Aminu Tambuwal.

The Governor said  the travelers would be sent back to Sokoto State, as soon as they completed the mandatory test and isolation, stressing that  the state would intensify ongoing strategies for inter-state lockdown, adding,”I am also in discussion with the governor of Sokoto State. We are more than likely going to return them to Sokoto.”

Penpushing reports that, he  maintained that Governors in the country were still discussing on how to enforce the inter-state lockdown throughout the country so as to curtail the spread of the novel Coronavirus.

“It is a discussion going on with the rest governors in Nigeria, because inter-state lockdown was put in place for a particular reason and what we have agreed to do is, in each individual state where you have inter-state motor parks, they must be on lockdown. If they are locked down, at least 80 to 85 per cent of our problems would have been solved. It is an ongoing discussion and I believe that will be the ultimate way to go.”