A ministerial enforcement team on COVID-19 movement restrictions have on Tuesday intercepted 29 commercial motorcyclists in Abuja heading to Lagos.
The 29 motorcyclists, who have been arraigned before the court, were said to be traveling on a truck from Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, enroute Lagos before they were arrested on Tuesday at the Aya Bridge in Asokoro District of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The driver, Samaila Samiya, explained that the truck carrying fine stones used for making marbles and tiles was loaded in Taraba State but heading to Lagos. “On getting to Lafia, I picked up the motorcyclists who pleaded to pay N2,000 to get to Lagos”.
One of the passengers, Musa Simon, confirmed that they are commercial motorcycle operators who left Lagos in the wake of the COVID-19 lockdown and were returning to resume work following threats by the motorcycle owners that they would sell off their motorcycles if they didn’t return.
Speaking during their arraignment before a mobile court, Chairman of the Task Force Team, Ikharo Attah, complained that despite the series of arrests, prosecutions and turning back of violators by the FCT Administration, many persons are yet to fully comply with the presidential directive on inter-state travel ban.
He added: “Just when one feels there is enough arrest to deter people, many more would continue to move and traverse state borders.”
