Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, on Tuesday led some security operatives to the operational base of Caverton Helicopters in PortHarcourt, to effect some arrests over the violation of movement restriction put in place to curb the spread of Coronavirus .
The governor also demanded for Caverton’s pilots to be interrogated on why they flew expatriates into the state and ordered the company to produce all passengers they brought into the state.
The Governor was said to be worried that the identities of the expatriates were unknown and had demanded the company to fish them out to verify their medical status.
Wike had signed an executive order closing all land, air and sea borders as part of his numerous measures to contain the spread of the pandemic.
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.”
