The Abia State Government says it has received an intelligence report on the planned movement of a group of Almajiris from another state into the state within the next 24 hours.
This was contained in a press release signed by the state Commissioner for Information, Chief John Okiyi Kalu and made available to newsmen in Umuahia, Tuesday.
According to the release, the State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, has directed all security agencies in the state, especially those posted to inter-state boundary communities, members of the State and Local Government Areas enforcement task force teams as well as the inter-ministerial committee on COVID-19, to ensure that within this period of the subsisting border closure necessitated by the coronavirus pandemic, no individual or group is allowed to enter the state, aside from those duly exempted, from any other part of the country.
“The Governor also directed that men and officers of the State Homeland Security Ministry be deployed immediately to relevant inter-state boundary communities to ensure there is no unauthorized entry”.
The State Government, however, reemphasized that traditional rulers and Transition Committee Chairmen of inter-state boundary communities will be held responsible and sanctioned for any such unauthorized entry into the state.
“All necessary lawful measures must be taken to stop the entry of not only the Almajiris but also other unlawful migrants into the state till the FG-backed inter-state border closure regulation put in place to control the spread of COVID-19 from one state to another is lifted”.