By Akanimo Kufre (The New Diplomat’s A/Ibom|C/River Correspondent)
The Akwa-Ibom state government has registered its displeasure at the roles played by some security operatives in the state on the flagrant flouting of interstate restrictions enforced to curtail the spread of the rampaging Covid-19.
The State Commissioner for information, Sir Charles Udoh, in a press statement, accused security operatives of conniving with passengers to gain entry into the state.
Udoh called the situation ‘illegal’ and a ‘disturbing trend’. He claimed the security operatives achieved this by conveying passengers in their personal cars or official vehicles so that the passengers could beat the imposed restrictions in the state.
The Commissioner, however, announced that an end has come for lax monitoring at the borders as “all vehicles will be subjected to the prescribed COVID-19 entry points protocols.”
Udoh added that all commanders in the state are aware of this development.
“All vehicles will be subjected to the prescribed COVID-19 entry points protocols. All service commanders in the state have been duly informed of the emerging trend,” Udoh said.
In his reaction, the Public Relations Officer of Akwa Ibom Police Command, CSP Fredrick Nudam debunked the accusation, saying the “allegation is baseless”.
Nudam said no police officer alive to their responsibilities would have the luxury of time to be transporters.
He said, “If Police are not transporters that allegation is baseless. If Police are not transporters and policemen are supposed to perform their duties what time will they have to begin to carry people out of the state or bring people into the state.”
He also added that it’s practically impossible for a police vehicle assigned to a particular local government to go into another local government without raising suspicion.
Nudam exonerated police offers of being complicit in the violation of restrictions by asking the state government to point its finger of accusation at another security organization other than the police.
He said, “So it’s not possible. If they are making references to other security organization they should let us know.”
