JUST IN: 26 senior army officers test positive for COVID-19
Thompson Nsisongabasi
Dec 14, 2020
The Nigerian Army officially announced Sunday night that 26 senior officers have so far tested positive for COVID-19, in the wake of the death of its General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division Port Harcourt, Maj.- Gen. Johnson Irefin.
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Irefin attended the Chief of Army Staff Conference in Abuja on Monday, where he complained about some discomfort. A day after, he showed classic symptoms of the virus: fever, headache and mild cough.
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A test later confirmed he had COVID-19.
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Despite the efforts to stabilise him, he died of the virus on Thursday 10 December, triggering the shut down of the conference.
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Army chief, Lt. General Tukur Yusuf Buratai went into isolation and also ordered all the officers who attended the conference to isolate and offer themselves for testing.
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Buratai also disinvited the officers to the wedding of his son last Friday.
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The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Sagir Musa, disclosed on Sunday that a total of 417 personnel had so far been tested up till Sunday.
The tests confirmed the 26 cases. .
"Currently, all participants are in self isolation irrespective of their results while Nigeria Centre for Disease Control recommended COVID-19 treatment drugs were immediately issued to those that tested positive,ÔÇØ he said.
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The army spokesperson also disclosed that all officers and soldiers working at the Army Headquarters were being tested while COVID-19 protocols were being strictly enforced across all units and formations of Nigerian army.
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He said that the entire Army Headquarters complex was thoroughly fumigated on Saturday Dec. 12.
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— Thompson Nsisongabasi