Chukwudi Akasike, Port Harcourt
RIVERS State Governor, Nyesom Wike, on Friday announced the arrest of 22 workers of ExxonMobil who allegedly entered the state in violation of the State Executive Order.
Wike, who spoke during a live broadcast in Port Harcourt disclosed that the oil workers were apprehended on Thursday by security personnel along the Ogoni-Akwa Ibom axis of Rivers State.
It was learnt that the ExxonMobil workers were taken to an isolation centre after they were arrested by security personnel.
The governor also maintained that the same law that was applied during the arrest of Caverton Helicopter pilots and 10 passengers would also be applied in the case of the arrested ExxonMobil employees.
He disclosed that Caverton Helicopters had apologised to the state government over the conduct that led to the arrest of their pilots and passengers, who were said to have violated the restriction orders of the state.
“Security agencies arrested 22 staff of ExxonMobil who came into the state from neighbouring Akwa Ibom State in violation of the extant Executive Order restricting movement into the state. We do not know the coronavirus status of these individuals.
“Even though security agencies advised that they be allowed to go back to Akwa Ibom State, I insisted that the law must take its course. This is because nobody is above the law.
“As a responsive government, we have quarantined them in line with the relevant health protocols and they will be charged to court. The same law that was applied in the case of Caverton will also apply to ExxonMobil,” Wike stressed.