The Nigerian Army has asked participants at the Chief of Army Staff’s annual conference 2020, in Abuja to go into isolation following the death of one of the participants from COVID-19 related complications.
The directive is in addition to the cancellation of the remaining activities in the ongoing conference.
Maj. Gen. John Irefin, the General Officer Commanding, 6 Division, Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, who was a participant at the conference reportedly died of complications from COVID-19 on Tuesday.
The 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 COVID- 19 protocol.
The statement read, “The Nigerian Army wishes to inform members of the public that due to resurgence of COVID 19 pandemic in the Federal Capital Territory in what appears to be a second wave of infection cycle and the unfortunate incident on Tuesday, December 8, 2020, where an officer participating in the ongoing Chief of Army Staff’s Annual Conference 2020 here in Abuja tested positive for COVID 19, the remaining activities of the conference have, therefore, been immediately cancelled.
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“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.”
The conference which began on Monday had the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai; Minister of Defence, Bashir Magashi as well as senior military officers, GOCs, principal military officers and guests participating physically while President Muhammadu Buhari and some others joined virtually.
In another statement, the COAS also announced that the wedding of this son, Hamisu, slated for Friday (today), would be scaled down without the participation of those who attended the conference.
In the second statement titled: ‘Scaling down of activities for the wedding Fatiha of Buratai’s son, Mr. Hamisu Tukur Buratai, the army said participants at the COAS conference would not participate in the wedding.
It read: “The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. TY Buratai, wishes to inform all dignitaries and other invited guests that activities earlier scheduled for the wedding of his son, Mr. Hamisu Tukur Buratai, will proceed as arranged albeit pruned down without the participation of all those who were at the conference.
“The Chief of Army Staff, on behalf of his family, feels honoured to sincerely appreciate, thank and welcome all dignitaries and invited guests to his son’s wedding Fatiha slated for Friday, December 11, 2020. However, due to the resurgence of the pandemic in the FCT, Gen. Buratai will be unable to personally attend to, receive or meet you at the event. All inconveniences hereby regretted, please.”
