Governor David Nweze Umahi ‘s led ‘Anti-COVID19 Compliance Team’, on Sunday, 19th April, arrested motorists and fugitives trying to sneak into Ebonyi State despite the lockdown order to curtail the spread Coronavirus pandemic.

Governor David Nweze Umahi ‘s Anti-COVID19 Compliance Team caught the insubordinate persons at Ivo Local Government Area of the State.

The team intercepted vehicles, fully loaded with fugitives journeying through Akaeze-Ishiagu into the state. Some others were also intercepted sneaking into the state on foot.

It was gathered that the bus drivers had charged and collected a huge sum of money from some of the fugitives before the team of the Governor intercepted them.

Governor David Umahi and his team are still on inspection to ascertain the level of compliance broken, in-line with the directives of the state government.

Noting that there is a leakage at the boundries, the governor reminded all LGA Chairmen, Coordinators, and other government appointees that their jobs are hanging on their ability to tighten the boundaries in their localities to ensure that we don’t allow COVID-19 entrance into the state.

According to Francis Nwaze, Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Publicity, the fugitives and drivers have been arrested for further action.

Recall that Governor David Umahi imposed a dusk to dawn curfew across the state as precautionary measures to prevent the infiltration of COVID-19 into the state.

Governor Umahi in his declaration stated that the curfew would be from 7pm to 7am, ordering the citizens to comply with the directive.

While stressing that the period the curfew would last remains indefinite, he warned that the partial lock-down order imposed in the state will be enforced with immediate effect except for those on essential duties.

According to him, the decision was reached following the increase in the number of cases in Lagos and some northern states of the country where indigenes of the state reside.

“Our fear is that if this thing gets worse, our people in Lagos and northern part of Nigeria, will start finding their way back to the state aggressively even through the bushes. This is not wisdom at all but the wisdom is to stay indoors and lock your house,’’ he said.

Speaking further, the governor said movements into the state was still banned, including building material as only health workers were permitted to move under the instruction of the health team.

“This partial lockdown means that there is no night movement and activities in the state because the illegal movements occur mostly at nights,” he explained.

He also noted that the palliatives to cushion the effects of the lockdown in the state will be shared at the appropriate time, according to names compiled through the various wards in the state.

The Governor also said the state is targeting to test at least 2,000 persons in the next two weeks.

“We have directed today for aggressive testing of at least 10 persons per ward. The chairmen, coordinators, royal highness and our people must identify the homes to be tested before the next 5 days.”

“This assignment must be completed within 2 weeks. So, within the next two weeks, we are going to test 2000 people in Ebonyi State.”