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Police arrest two pilots for flying expatriates into Rivers

Police arrest two pilots for flying expatriates into Rivers

The Rivers State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of two
pilots who violated the lockdown order in Rivers state, by flying in
expatriates into the South-South state.

The Caverton pilots were arrested after Governor Nyesom Wike led
security operatives to the operational base of the airline in the
state.

LIB reported earlier that the Rivers state Governor had demanded for
the identities of the foreigners flown into the state, and for medical
test to be conducted on them.

Rivers Police Commissioner, Mustapha Dandaura who confirmed the arrest of the pilots said;

“Recall that when this coronavirus issues started, there was ban of
local flight from coming into the State. Since that time we have been
monitoring the activities of these private airlines.

“To our surprise, we received an intelligence report that an aircraft
has landed at the Airforce base and that it was carrying some
passengers. We have apprehended the Pilot and the Co-pilot by the NAF
commander that’s why they alerted the chief executive Governor of the
state who had given an order that on no account should any aircraft land
on Rivers State without clearance.

“We don’t know the people they brought. Whether they are positive or
negative of Coronavirus. Where are the heading to and where they came
from.

“To our surprise this morning this aircraft landed without any signal
or permission from the authorities. We don’t know their mission here.
Maybe they are coming here to sabotage the activities of the state and
the security agencies that are putting efforts on ground to ensure that
Rivers State enjoy peaceful atmosphere throughout this pandemic period”.

Governor Nyesom Wike also expressed willingness to testify against
persons violating the state’s border closure, which is one the measures
his administration instituted to curb the spread of Coronavirus.

He said;

 “I am willing to drop my immunity as a governor as far as this case is concerned . I am ready to be a prosecution witness.

“I want to say this is a serious matter to us and police should
handle it seriously. That’s why I am here at the state command to show
the seriousness of this issue.

“No body says that you can’t go to any state but now we are in a war
situation. This Covid-19 is even worse than a conventional war. We want
to know who are those people you brought in, so that we have to trace
them to know their identity and status. Luckily we have seen the pilot
and the Co-pilot. They will assist the police to assist in identifying
them”.

Governor Wike who wondered why the management of Caverton decided to
cut corners in flying in expatriates into the state, stated that the
state government has the right to check those coming into the state in
order to ascertain their status.

He added;

 “I have always said that we need the support of everybody. Nobody
knows the status of those coming into Port Harcourt. Nobody knows
whether they are positive or negative. I have said before that I don’t
have right to close the airport. But I have the right of saying don’t
enter my state because we want to know your status.

“The company wrote to us about bringing people which I forwarded to
Commissioner of Police to perform security checks and the health
officials to perform their duties before allowing them to come in. That
is for those performing essential duties. But they decided to violate
the regulations.”

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