Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, says vehicles that were impounded in the state after their owners were caught driving them in violation of the lockdown order will be auctioned.

The Governor said this on Thursday in an interview after he went round to monitor the level of compliance with the lockdown.

“The defaulters will be tried by the Mobile Courts and I have told the Attorney General, all the impounded vehicles must be auctioned. By tomorrow, the Honourable Attorney General would have advertised those vehicles and we will auction them,” he said.

“Some people don’t believe that Coronavirus is in existence. Until you make them understand that we are serious, they will not believe it. We will auction the impounded vehicles.

“Those arrested will face the wrath of the law. Nobody is above the law. We will not allow anyone to sabotage our efforts to protect our people.”

While monitoring the level of compliance, Governor Wike oversaw the arrest of several violators and the impounding of cars.

Some of those arrested were very important persons (VIPS), who were adjudged not to be on essential duties, but were moving around with their police escorts.

The governor, however, allowed a pregnant woman who violated the lockdown order, to go on compassionate grounds.

At the Elekahia Isolation Centre, over 200 persons were arrested and over 20 vehicles impounded by different teams enforcing the lockdown.

Despite his strong reaction to those who violated the lockdown order, the governor is generally satisfied with the larger population in the state.

“I want to commend Rivers people for the level of support they have shown. The level of compliance is quite satisfactory. It is more than 95 percent within the two Local Government Areas,” he said.