Security operatives in Cross River State have reportedly killed a taxi driver for carrying passengers who were not wearing masks.

WuzupNigeria reports that Governor Ben Ayade had issued a directive barring all residents in the state from going out without face masks. The move became imperative following cases of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

However, security officers while enforcing the order accosted a taxi driver at Marian in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.

An eyewitness, @ayebechristopher, who share details of the incident on Instagram, said while the driver was wearing a face mask when he was stopped, his passengers were not.

He added that for this violation security operatives beat the man till he collapsed. He was confirmed dead thereafter.

He wrote,

WHO said only wear Mask if you’re sick or taking care of a sick person but the Governor of CRS with his own eye service, so they’ll say he’s fighting Corona too came out and said you must wear Nose Mask else you stay indoors, (that’s actually not the problem) but why not give the Law Enforcement Agents you’re using proper orientation.

Now they’ve killed someone. Shey you’re happy now? Is that what other States with COVID-19 cases are doing? No confirmed case in Calabar yet and you’ve started killing people. This is really sad. The mask you even said you’ll distribute was only distributed in Government House. Na wa ooo