…as minister, Buratai, others isolate
Nigerian Army has cancelled the remaining activities in the ongoing Chief of Army Staff’s annual conference 2020 after a participant, Major General John Irefin, suddenly died in Abuja, on Tuesday.
Irefin, who was the General Officer Commanding, 6 Division, Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, reportedly died of complications from COVID-19.
This development created panic within the Nigerian Army in Abuja.
Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Sagir Musa, in a statement on Thursday, said all the conference participants had been directed to immediately proceed on self-isolation in line with the protocol for COVID- 19.
The annual conference which started on Monday had President Muhammadu Buhari and some dignitaries as virtual participants while the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai; Minister of Defence, Bashir Magashi and a few others participated physically.
Participants physically present at the event, including senior military officers, GOCs, principal military officers and guests are expected to immediately self-isolate.
According to the statement, “All the participants have been mandated to immediately proceed on self-isolation in line with the Federal Government’s protocol for COVID- 19 and to prevent any further spread of the disease.”
Buratai also announced that the wedding of this son, Hamisu, scheduled for Friday (today), would be scaled down as he himself would not be physically present while others at the Army conference had been barred from the wedding ceremony.
“However, due to the resurgence of the pandemic in the FCT, General Buratai will be unable to personally attend to, receive or meet you at the event. All inconveniences hereby regretted, please,” the statement added.