BORDER CLOSURE: GOV. UMAHI RECALLS SUSPENDED POLITICAL LEADERS, VOWS TO TAKE TOUGHER ACTION ON SECURITY LAPSES

Ebonyi State Government says it has quarantined four hundred and forty eight persons intercepted at the boundary areas while attempting to sneak into the State against the Presidential ban on interstate movement.

Governor David Umahi announced this at a weekly State wide broadcast on efforts by his Government to curb the spread of coronavirus in the State.

He stated that the intercepted persons were quarantined at Local Government Development Centres activated some days ago to serve as withholding centres.

According to the Governor, the State Government will construct gates at the entry points located on the three Major Highways linking Ebonyi and other States to prevent movement of people during the pandemic.

He noted that all cases of coronavirus in the State were linked to illegal movement of people from high risk areas and urged them to stay where they were as the State Government was making efforts to send palliatives across.

Chief Umahi said he had lifted the suspension it imposed on the State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry for failing to address security lapses at Local Government boundary points.

He also recalled suspended Local Government Development Coordinators in Afikpo North and Ivo Council Areas and warned that any further negligence of duty would attract automatic sack.

The Governor stated that the State had recorded the eighth case of coronavirus involving a three year old child whose parents had earlier tested positive to the virus.

Chief Umahi gave order for two hotels shut down for violating the social gathering order in Abakaliki and Amasiri in Afikpo North Local Government Area to be unsealed while impounded vehicles and motorcycles should be returned to their owners in the spirit of forgiveness.

• AMECHI ODO