At least 26 Nigerian Army generals have tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19), military sources said.
The infected military officers were said to have had contact with late Major General Olu Irefin who died from COVID-19 complications last week.
According to the sources, the affected senior army officers were attendees of the 2020 Chief of Army Staff Annual Conference at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre in Abuja.
Besides, late General Irefin was said to have visited some of his colleagues at home before he attended the conference.
Thereafter, all the officers who attended the conference, their wives, and other members of their families who live with them, have been directed to isolate themselves for a week by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
The sources revealed that the affected senior army officers were mostly those who came from outside Abuja and have been tested by officials of the NCDC.
However, others who were in the nation’s capital have yet to take the test for the virus.
It was learnt that the venue of the aborted conference – the Nigerian Army Resource Centre in Asokoro – has been decontaminated by health officials at the weekend.
The acting Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Sagir Musa, also confirmed that a total of 417 personnel have been tested with 26 confirmed positive cases as of Sunday, although he did not disclose the ranks of the infected persons.
According to him, all those who attended the conference are in self-isolation irrespective of their results.
General Musa stated that COVID-19 treatment drugs recommended by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) were immediately issued to those that tested positive.
He added that all officers and soldiers working at the Army Headquarters were being tested as COVID-19 protocols were being strictly enforced across all units and formations of the force.
The army spokesman noted that the entire Army Headquarters complex was thoroughly fumigated by health officials on Saturday last week.
He also explained the processes that led to the death of General Irefin in a statement on Sunday.
Part of the statement read,
The Chief of Army Staff’s Annual Conference (COAS) 2020, started on 7 December 2020 with the virtual commissioning of the Nigerian Army Cyber Warfare Command’s Headquarters at Giri by the President, Commander-in-Chief.
Among the attendees was Malor General JO Irefin, the late General Officer Commanding 6 Division, based in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Same day, at about 9pm, having complained of fever, headache and mild cough, he was taken to Defence Medical Centre, Abuja.
His medical history revealed that he was treated for malaria with parenteral artemether a week ago at 6 Division Medical Services and Hospital in Port Harcourt Barracks.
On Wednesday 8 December 2020, his sample for COVID 19 was taken and he was directed to self-isolate pending the outcome of the test.
On the same day, the result of his COVID 19 test was confirmed positive and was taken to Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital, Abuja for further management.
Sadly, he passed on at about 0510 hours on Thursday 10th of December 2020. The cause of his death was reported as respiratory failure secondary to the complications of COVID 19 infection.
Major General Irefin fell ill at the 2020 Chief of Army Staff Conference last week and was taken to the hospital.
He was later confirmed to be positive for COVID-19 and was receiving treatment before he died.
The late general was the General Officer Commanding (GOC) Six Division of the Army in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.