Second Day of Indefinite Lockdown

Today is day two of the indefinite lock down of Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt City LGAs as part of measures to "stop the spread of #COVID-19" in Rivers State. Day 1 ended with the arrest of 214 persons (including the 14 later arrested in two trucks with unspecified number of Cows at Rumuigbo area); impoundment of 22 vehicles and pardon of a pregnant woman by Governor Nyesom Wike on 'compassionate grounds' for violating lock down orders.

Our expectations today is that the Governor briefs the State or issues a statement before 3PM on the resolution of the Emergency State Security Council Meeting that he summoned by 3PM yesterday after he said a Deputy Commissioner of Police challenged his powers by 'unlocking' the State he locked down by granting "illegal movement permits" and that there cannot be two Governors in Rivers State.

The new information expected from Government House today is likely going to shape the direction of the lock down, warn members of the public, talk about Police/Federal sabotage of the fight against #COVID-19 in the State as well as what would further happen to the cars and cows already set aside for auctioning. We also expect more people to be arrested today but the number of arrested persons would likely drop from that of yesterday. Those arrested yesterday (I hope they were kept at Delta Hotels like Caverton Helicopters and ExxonMobil Staff) are expected to be tried today and likely granted bail. Let's keep our fingers crossed, continue monitoring and reporting both lock down and human rights violations while those who want to buy the confiscated vehicles and cows from Rivers State Government prepare money that they kept at home as banks are locked down!