Anxiety As Nigerian Army Confirms 18 Generals COVID-19 Positive

• NCDC subjects others to mandatory testing

It is certainly not the best of times for the Nigerian Army health wise with about 18 generals reportedly testing positive for coronavirus (COVID-19).

The disturbing news caused the Army hierarchy to hurriedly halt the 2020 Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Conference in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

According to reports by Channels Television on Sunday, December 13, 2020, the infected officers were among persons said to have had contact with late Major General Olu Irefin who died from COVID-19 complications last week.

It was further gathered that the senior officers were all attendees of the 2020 COAS Annual Confab at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC) in Abuja.

Military sources confirmed reports that late General Irefin visited some of his colleagues at home; before proceeding to attend the conference.

Given the worrying development, all officers who were at the conference, their wives, and other members of their families living with them; have been directed to isolate themselves for a week by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

The sources revealed that the officers involved were mostly those who came from outside Abuja; and have been subjected to necessary test by NCDC officials.

But unconfirmed reports however said other officers who were in the nation’s capital are yet to take the test for the virus.

Furthermore, Channels Television reported that the venue of the aborted conference, the Nigerian Army Resource Centre in Asokoro, Abuja, was decontaminated by health officials at the weekend.

Major General Irefin took ill at the 2020 Chief of Army Staff Conference last week; and was rushed to the hospital for treatment.

Later, he was confirmed positive for COVID-19 and said to be responding to treatment before he passed on.

The late Irefin was the General Officer Commanding (GOC) Six Division of the Nigerian Army in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital