Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi has suspended all Development Centre Coordinators in Afikpo North and Ivo local government areas of the State for enabling interstate travel during the COVID-19 lockdown.
The governor also announced the suspension of the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters as well as the leadership of the Town Union in the State.
In a statement he personally issued on Sunday, Governor Umahi expressed disappointment that those in the State’s boundary areas took bribes and allowed passengers and vehicles to enter into the State.
The governor, who had embarked on private visits to the boundary areas in the two council areas on Saturday night, stated his disappointment seeing vehicles from Port Harcourt and Aba and other states entering the State without restrictions.
He described the development as a disappointment, noting that he might be forced to recruit men from 140 communities across the state to man the boundaries.
Governor Umahi also directed the Commissioner for Local Government, Sam Okoronkwo, to account for the N15 million in funding for the 13 council chairmen for the pandemic response.