Maj. Gen. John Irefin
By Our Reporter
About a week after the demise of the General Officer Commanding, 6 Division, Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, Maj. Gen. John Irefin, who reportedly died of complications arising from coronavirus, about 26 Army officers have tested positive for COVID-19,
The infected military officers were believed to have had contact with the deceased during the Chief of Army Staff’s annual conference 2020, in Abuja, last week.
The conference was cancelled following Irefin’s passage and the participants, including the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai; the Minister of Defence, Bashir Magashi; and GOCs from nearly all the army divisions nationwide, were directed to go on self-isolation.
Based on this, the COAS did not attend the wedding of his son in Abuja on Friday.
Learnt that some of the infected GOCs and principal officers were being treated at the COVID-19 isolation centre, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, Abuja, while other patients were also being quarantined at other isolation centres in the Federal Capital Territory.
The Nigerian Army spokesman, 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,” he said
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.
He said that the entire Army Headquarters complex was thoroughly fumigated on Saturday Dec. 12.
