There was apprehension among residents of Ikare Akoko, the headquarters of Akoko North East Local Government, in Ondo State today over the discovery of about 20 Almajiris from the northern part of the country at the Iso Onisu area of the town.

The Almajiris were seen coming out from a truck fully loaded with bags of beans.

Residents of the area who raised alarm over the august visitors when they noticed them alighting from the truck explained that they Almajiris were transported to Ikare, hidden in the truck fully loaded with bags beans.

Details of how they beat the blockades at the boundaries is yet to be ascertained.

It was however gathered that the Almajiris had traveled down to the town from Kano State despite the shutdown of borders across the state.

It could be recalled that the Presidential Task Force (PTF), has called on Governors to address the “Almajiri” pupils issues squarely, to avoid further spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the country.

Mr Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation and PTF chairman on COVID-19, made the call during the task force daily briefing on yesterday in Abuja.

Mustapha appealed to the governors to align their plans for the movement of the pupils with the ban on inter-state movement imposed by the President.

Specifically, he called on the governors intensify dialogue on the “Almajiri” situation in the country.“Nigerians are yet to come to terms with the deadly and virulent nature of COVID-19.

“The PTF has observed non-compliance with physical distancing, especially in banks, traffic gridlock, inter-state movement and carrying capacity directive by commercial vehicles,” he said.