- By Kamil Opeyemi
The Nigeria Police Force has denied blocking trucks transporting food stuffs and animals to the Southern part of the country at Kara-Jebba-Mokwa Road in the state.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Mr Wasiu Abiodun, made the refutal in a statement on Saturday in Minna.
He said that the purported video circulating in some social media insinuating that vehicles and trucks conveying food stuff and animals were block was not true.
“The Command wishes to state that the video is an old video of about five years ago, and that there was no stoppage or blockage of trucks conveying goods or animals from Minna to Kwara and vice-versa,” he said.
According to him, It is also very important to state that on Feb.16 at about 9:00 p.m., a Toyota Dyna mini truck with Registration Number BDG 178 XF conveying cattle to Kwara had a minor accident at Quarantine checkpoint, Jebba North.
The police Spokesman said that the incident resulted in the evacuation of the animal to another vehicle, which caused a little gridlock, and after the evacuation, there was free flow of traffic.
He emphasised that there was no attempt or outright blockage by any individual or group of persons or agencies at the Kara-Jebba area of Mokwa as insinuated in the video.
He urged members of the public to disregard the video as it was an old video, circulated by mischief makers to cause chaos in the state and the country.
The police Spokesman enjoined residents to go about their lawful businesses without any fear of molestation or chaos.
He encouraged members of the public to always contact the control room numbers of the command on 07031964389 and 0807539 1601 in case of any incident.
NPO Reports that Governor of Niger state, Mohammed Umaru Baggo,had two weeks ago ordered that no foodstuffs should be sold to merchants outside the state until further notice.
The governor had said that security agencies had been instrusted to stop any truck coming into the state to transport food items.