COVID-19: Police Warn Residents As Niger Govt Bans Motorcycle Riders

Niger State Government in its bid to avoid the spread of Coronavirus pandemic has in a statement recently released, warned Tricycle operators in the state against carrying more than two persons.

The development was disclosed on Wednesday, May 13 in the statement which was delivered to newsmen by the state Commissioner of Police, CP Adamu Usmanin, who warned that motorcycle operators are no longer allowed to operate in the state until further notice.

Adamu noted that anyone found guilty of the order would be made to face the law as directed by the State Government.

The statement further reiterates that night curfew in the state between the hour of 6:00 pm to 7:00 am still remain without consideration to any essential service, adding also that inter-state travel ban has not been lifted either.

The statement reads; “This is to inform the General Public, most especially the motorcycle operators in the state that the enforcement has fully commenced and hereby warns motorcyclists to desist from operating while tricycles must not carry more than two persons. Anyone found violating this order shall be made to face the full wrath of the law.”

“Use of face mask in Public is compulsory, failure to comply, constitutes an offence contrary to section 17 (1) of the COVID-19 Order of the State,”

The command added, “This is in furtherance to the directive of Niger State Government during COVID-19 Task Force meeting, as announced by the Executive Governor for another two weeks lockdown, that the operation of commercial motorcyclists (Okada) is banned in the State until further notice to curb the spread of the virus,”

“To ensure strict compliance, the state police boss directed all Heads of Departments, Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers to carry out the enforcement to the fullest and also enjoins Nigerlites/residents of the state to voluntarily abide by the order in the interest of public safety by seeing the measure as a means to curb the spread of Covid-19 in the state.”

Meanwhile, Naija News had reported that no fewer than nine suspected members of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)  have been arrested by the Delta Police Command and 13 police service rifles recovered from them.