2 pilots arrested as private airline flies unidentified passengers to Rivers despite Coronavirus lockdown

Two pilots have been arrested in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital,for violating the directives on lockdown against Coronavirus in the state.

Their arrest was reportedly effected by police officers in company of the Governor of the state, Chief Nyesom Wike, who ordered their arrest when he paid a surprise visit to the office of Caverton Helicopters, employers of the pilots.

In a post, Special Adviser to Governor Wike on Social Media, Marshal Obuzor, reportedly said the visit was necessitated by information that the helicopter company flew some yet to be identified persons into the oil city despite the ongoing lockdown.

According to Obuzor, Wike had subsequently asked the security operatives to interrogate the pilots of the company on why they flew people into the state without informing him.

The governor also asked Caverton to produce all the passengers they brought into the state for proper contact tracing in order to know their health status.

Governor Wike also personally took the pilots to the Rivers State Police Command Headquarters where he asked the Commissioner of Police, CP Mustapha Dandaura, to carry out a through investigation on their activity.

Speaking at the Police Headquarters, Governor Wike regretted that some people are risking the lives of the people of the state at a crucial time he has been working to keep coronavirus at bay.

He said although the state presently has only one new case, the support of everyone is needed to keep Rivers State safe.

Wine said the state has to know the identity and status of the people that were brought into the state surreptitiously at a time there is closure of borders to control the spread of the Covid19 virus.

It would be recalled that Governor Wike had ordered closure of all borders in Rivers State to curtail spread of Coronavirus.