Members of the Abia State Vigilante Service have arrested 21 market women intercepted in a container truck, at the Ekwereazu boundary between Abia and Akwa Ibom States.
The women who came from Akwa Ibom State and were on their way to Aba, were arrested with the truck driver and two of his conductors for violating the border closure and lockdown order of the State Government.
Commissioner for Home Land Security, Dan Okoli noted that the situation where people are smuggled into the State poses a great threat to the efforts by the State Government to contain the spread of Coronavirus.
The Driver of the truck, Moses Asuquo from Akwa Ibom State claimed he was going to Aba to purchase stock fish but decided to assist the stranded women.
Recall that recently, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu charged Local Government Transition Committee Chairmen in all the border communities iof the State, to tighten up their borders or face sanctions.
Meanwhile, some travellers were left stranded at Oyigbo which is the border town between Rivers and Abia States.
The travellers in their numbers told reporters that the pains and effect of the lockdown are becoming unbearable despite paying their way to get to Rivers State before they got stuck.
Only heavy duty trucks of the construction company working on the bad portion of the Oyigbo axis of the Port Harcourt-Aba Expressway in Rivers State and those conveying foodstuff were seen driving in and out of Rivers State.
Some of the persons coming into Rivers State with goods from Aba that could not beat the security post are, however, following alternative routes through the Imo River.
These stranded commuters want government to be sincere with its palliatives because the pain from the lockdown is biting harder.
The people are also advocating for testing kits at border post to allow inter-state travels.
They further noted l that the planned nationwide lockdown without adequate palliative measures in place might lead to social unrest.
