Call Inspector General Of Police To Order, Rivers’ Traditional Rulers Tell Buhari, Ask Him To Reverse IGP’s Order On Livestock Movement

Traditional Rulers in Rivers State under the auspices of Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to reverse the order put in place by the Inspector General of Police to set up a Joint Technical Task Force on the movement of livestock, agricultural products, goods and services in the State.

The Traditional Rulers while speaking to Journalists on Saturday added that the setting up of such task force without consultation with the State Government is indeed a danger to the health of the people of the State.

According to the Chairman of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, His Majesty, King Dandeson Douglas Jaja, said there  was no guarantee that the trucks that would convey livestock to the state would not carry passengers with unknown identities and health status.

Speaking he said;  “We, the traditional rulers in Rivers State, are alarmed by the unfortunate action of the Inspector General of Police by setting up the Joint Technical Task Force on the movement of agricultural products, livestock, machinery, goods and services at the instance of the Federal Ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development, Defence, Environment as well as various security agencies, to ensure free and unhindered movement of food, livestock, etc.

“We recall that the National Assembly last week expressed deep concern on inter-state movement of trucks, livestock conveying other passengers into other states. Following this, various state governors acted promptly and took measures to protect their states from the importation and exportation of COVID-19 patients or vectors.

“We prayerfully request His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari, to intervene and reverse this order of the IGP. Even if it is a national policy, it should not begin with Rivers State, as we are not undernourished state in Nigeria.

“We feel deeply concerned as the entire episode is hasty and appears to be terminally targeted at our people. We seek Mr President’s intervention to lift the threat and save the lives of our people as COVID-19 pandemic does not discriminate against gender, class, ethnic group, creed or social status.”

The monarch added that even if the intention of such task force was to ensure the movement of food, livestock and agricultural equipment, the process could also encourage the influx of bandits, terrorists and COVID-19 infected persons to endanger the lives of Rivers people.

Jaja stated further that;  “We are informed that in spite of the presidential order restricting inter-state movement of trucks and other vehicles other than those on essential services, the IGP has unilaterally lifted the ban and proceeded to set up the Joint Technical Task Force on the movement of agricultural products, livestock, goods and services, sequel to a presumed directive of the Federal Ministries of Agriculture, Defence, security agencies to provide unhindered movement of food, livestock, agricultural input without passengers.”