Niger State government has joined Northern States taking tough actions against human traffic from Lagos to the region as on Wednesday, it ordered a trailer filled with over 50 persons to return back to Lagos State where it was reportedly coming from.
This was part of actions being taken by the State government to control the influx of people into from Lagos, which is the epicentre of the epidemic in Nigeria.
The truck, said to be heading to Kano State from Lagos, was stopped by security personnel at Gidan Kwano area of Niger State.
The truck was covered with a trampoline with people staying under the layer under the trampoline and on top of it.
The security agents who accosted the truck did not accept the explanations from the people found on the truck and were turned back, ignoring the pleas of the driver that they be allowed to pass through, and pledging not to stop in the State.
But the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), who doubles as the Chairman of the State Task Force on COVID-19, Mr Ahmed Matane, told the security personnel to escort the trailer through the road it came into the State, insisting that there was no waiver for any truck that is not carrying food items, fuel or other essential products to enter into the State.
The SSG emphasized that the State was determined not to allow anyone to cross its boundaries while expressing his doubt over the health status of the passengers in the truck.
The 24-hour-restriction order in Niger State entered its third day on Wednesday and there have been total compliance and enforcement, according to security personnel, since the lockdown began.