Deputy of Benue State, Engr. Benson Abounu on Monday inaugurated international and internal boundary control taskforce committee to man the state border with the Republic of Cameroon as well as all entry points to Benue from neighbouring states.
Engr. Abounu who is the Chairman, State Action Committee on COVID-19, said the move was part of measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus to the state.
He charged members of the committee to take their assignment with all seriousness in the event on took place at the Benue Peoples House, Makurdi.
“Membership of the taskforce has the Nigeria Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Benue Vigilante Group, local government security officers, Department of State Security, and the state Boundary Commission. They are to ensure that those coming into Benue do not endanger the lives of those resident in the state.
Engr Abounu said apart from embarking on massive sensitisation, “the State Action Committee has been very busy responding to distress calls by concerned people of the state and has succeeded in tracking all COVID-19 suspected cases for testing.”
He expressed gratitude to God that apart from the index case, which had since been transferred to Abuja, Benue has not recorded another positive case as all the samples of those suspected of having the symptoms whose samples were taken to Abuja tested negative.
The Deputy Governor urged the taskforce to enforce the curfew at every entry point and help stop people with symptoms of the illness from getting into the state.
Responding on behalf of the the committe, Mr Adango Oko-jaja of the Nigeria Immigration Service, who is the Chairman of the taskforce on the Nigeria/Cameroon international boundary, thanked the State Government for having confidence in them and gave assurance that the team would put in their best to ensure that Benue remains Convid -19 free.
