Osun indigenes denied passage at Ogun border

Some indigenes of Osun State have been stranded after the Ogun State government denied them passage through its border while returning to their state of origin.

The affected indigenes were said to have been returning from Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire before the Ogun State government shut its borders against them.

A statement signed by Prince Wole Oyebamiji, Secretary to Osun State Government, yesterday, indicated that the government was already making plans to convey the sojourners back to Ejigbo, their hometown.

Ogun State was said to have shut its borders to prevent the spread of Coronavirus in the state.

Oyebamiji said the indigenes would be screened at the border to ensure that they are free of the virus before being conveyed to Osun.

The statement read: “The State Government of Osun has been notified by the Ogun State Government that some indigenes of our state, coming from a neighbouring Francophone country, have been denied the right of passage through Ogun State to their destination.

“As a responsible and responsive government that places a premium on the lives and well-being of its citizens, we are already making logistical arrangements to convey our citizens back to the state with the full complements of the state’s security. We cannot afford to have our citizens marooned or abandoned.

“The state government shall convey these members of its citizenry to Ejigbo, where they hail from. They will be screened in this place before rejoining their families if certified free of the coronavirus.

“We hereby urge other citizens of our state that are currently out of the country to stay put in their countries of residence, as it is generally hazardous for persons to relocate in these trying times.”

Meanwhile, Oyebamiji, in an earlier statement said the state government would be shutting its land borders today (Saturday) to curtail the spread of the global disease.

He, therefore, asked indigenes of the state to remain where they are as the government might not be able to retrieve such returnees from the borders of other states if they are denied passage.

Also, the government called on those who had returned to the state from the United Kingdom, the United States of America and other countries marked as high-risk countries in the last two weeks to call the state’s emergency number – 293 – for instructions on how to stay safe.