Cross Rivers State Government has intercepted five trucks conveying almajiris from the northern part of the country and ordered the trucks back to their start off points on Thursday, May 7.
It was gathered that the trucks were intercepted on Wednesday night at the Garkem border town in Bekwara Local Government Area of the state near Benue State by a border patrol team comprising of Peace Corp members, civilian Vigilantes, Border COVID-19 Task force and Youth groups.
Reacting to the incident, the state commissioner for youths identified as Signor Omang Idiege confirmed the incident.
Idiege said most of the passengers were almajiris who did not meet COVID-19 protocols.
“After a thorough check on the five trucks and discovered that most of the passengers, aside goods, were almajiri, who did not meet COVID-19 protocols, we had to force them to return.” Idiege said.
The State security adviser, Dr Alfred Mboto also confirmed that he has been briefed about the incident.
He said; “We got a report from our security and task force teams at the Garkem border town yesterday night that trucks carrying large number of children from the north alleged to be almajiri were intercepted after thorough check, and have been turned back.”
