COVID-19: Northern youths stowed away in Dangote truck intercepted in Umuahia

Over 40 youths claiming to be from the northern part of the country who were stowed away in a Dangote truck were intercepted at the Umudike Junction of Aba Road, Umuahia, today by eagle eyed men of Traffic and Indiscipline Management Agency of Abia State (TIMAAS) with support from men and officers of the Nigeria Police Force

According to reports, TIMAAS operatives in the area received intelligence that a Dangote truck carrying the youths was approaching the area from the Akwa Ibom State axis of the border and immediately mounted surveillance. On sighting the truck, the officers flagged it down and inquired from the driver what he was carrying. He replied that the truck was empty but when the officials climbed the truck to ascertain things for themselves, they found over 40 northern youths lying on the floor of the enclosed cargo space of the truck and invited nearby police officers to join in arresting them.

When the truck and its human cargo were taken to the office of the State Commissioner of Police, Mrs Janet Agbede, she interrogated the driver and the stow aways and later directed they be escorted back to Akwa Ibom end of the border from where they entered Abia State.

Speaking to newsmen on the development, the State Commissioner for Homeland Security, Prince Dan Okoli, warned that, henceforth, trucks carrying human cargoes to and through the state will be decisively dealt with in line with the directive from the Federal Government banning inter state movement except those on essential duties. He called on all neighboring states to strengthen monitoring and enforcement of the restrictions on inter-state movements at their various borders to help control the spread of COVID-19 from state to state.