By from Duku JOEL, Damaturu
Yobe State Government is set to apprehend and prosecute traders that travelled to Kano on Thursday.
The Nation findings revealed that there was serious concern in Damaturu and some parts of Yobe State over reports that some traders travelled to Kano as the Government eased the lockdown for 18 hours to enable Muslims shop for Ramadan.
Investigation revealed that some of the traders in the state especially, the state capital, Damaturu took advantage of the opening of Kano by Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje to quickly rush down and restock their goods.
The action of some of the traders attracted a lot of concern and anxiety for Yobeans as Kano has become one of the high burden states of COVID-19.
“We cannot risk having people travelled to Kano and come back to live with us. Their action is very condemnable and unpatriotic,” a resident of Damaturu lamented.
One of the drivers, Idris Adamu, who travels to Kano, informed our correspondent that some of the traders called him to convey them to Kano but he turned them down.
“I woke up early with some of their calls that we should travel to Kano but I told them I cannot go to Kano with this coronavirus. I cannot put my entire family and the state at risk by travelling to Kano at this material time because of money,” Idris informed.
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Adamu also informed that he has warned them of the mobile court where they would be put on trial and convicted in the event they are caught.
The Chairman Sub-Committee on Security and Enforcement of the Yobe State COVID 19 Committee, Brig. Gen. Dahiru Abdusalam, said his committee had a meeting with the leadership of the traders and warned them to ensure that their members do not travel to Kano.
“We had a meeting with the trader’s union, YOCCIMA, NACCIMA, NYE and warned them not to travel to Kano,” Abdusalam said.
He also added that any of the traders caught to have travelled to Kano will be apprehended on return.
On how they would be fished out, Gen. Abdulsalem explained: “their communities and their colleagues will expose them”.
The Nation reports that Yobe State has ordered complete border closure to stop spread of the virus.
Investigation however revealed that some of the motorists either bribe their ways through the checkpoints or follow illegal routes in the bush to enter the town.
As at Friday morning, the Committee on COVID 19 was seen making public announcement for the people not to associate with anybody that travelled to Kano.
“We are calling on all for fish-out those that travelled to Kano yesterday. If you know that anybody travelled to Kano yesterday, don’t associate with him and make sure you report him to the State Committee on COVID 19,” the town-crier was heard saying.
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