Nasarawa State Governor, Engr. Abdullahi Sule, has disclosed that residents of the state who return from Lagos and Kano states shall be place under mandatory isolation for 14 days.

He gave the hint in a remark at a meeting with traditional and religious leaders at the Government House, Lafia, on Monday.

According to him, the step became necessary because of the increase in the spread of the dreaded pandemic as well as the need to protect residents of the state against the virus.

The governor lamented that instead of subsiding, the coronavirus is unfortunately spreading fast.

He noted that Katsina and Kano States have been under total lockdown, stressing however that the major concern of his government is the increasing number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the neigbouring FCT.

The Governor further appealed to traditional rulers, led by the Chairman of the Nasarawa State Traditional Council and Emir of Lafia, HRH Justice Sidi Bage (rtd), to ensure that returnees from the two aforementioned states, are isolated.

Engr. Sule disclosed that already, 43 persons returning from Lagos were intercepted in Akwanga, on their way to Shendam, in Plateau State.

He explained that having gotten in touch with his colleague in Jos, the returnees were escorted to Jos where they were isolated.

Five of the arrested persons, according to him, however escaped into the bush after their vehicle stopped in Forrest, on the way to Jos, while 13 others who claim to come from Nasarawa State are on their way back to Lafia, where they will go into isolation on their arrival.

“Even if they are our relations, as long as they are returning home from Lagos or Kano, we will go ahead and isolate them for 14 days and test them,” Engineer Sule vowed.