Army Finds Passengers Under Vehicles Carrying Essential Commodities To Enugu

Security operatives at Nsukka, Enugu State, Thursday, intercepted some
Enugu-bound vehicles carrying youths hiding under bags of foodstuffs
in the guise of being essential commodities.

They were said to be coming from northern parts of the country into the state.

The action followed a directive by the Enugu State government closing
her land boundaries and banning inter-state transportation as measures
to contain the spread of COVID-19.

The military in the same exercise
intercepted over 30 vehicles loaded with passengers who were passing
through the state.

The intercepted passengers were consequently escorted out of the state by the military with the assistance of the
police.

An eye witness, who did not want his name mentioned, said, “Some of the passengers who were mostly from northern parts of the country covered themselves with bags of food items, and were able to beat
checkpoints until their arrest.”

One of the intercepted passengers, Peter, told newsmen that he was
returning from Benue State, adding that, “We trekked from Benue
borders, through Amalla to Obollo Afor in Udenu Local Government Area,
where we then boarded a bus to our destinations.

Some of us simply
want to return home. Others are however on business trips.”

Some of the passengers said they were coming from Port Harcourt en
route to the north.

According to one of them, “We passed through the
Bonny River to Cross Rivers State’s land boundaries, and then boarded
buses through Enugu State. We want to return to our native homes to
endure the pains of coronavirus.”

The security operatives, while escorting them out of the state, warned
travellers to obey border closure directives and stay at home to
contain the spread of the virus.