The Nigerian Army has directed the immediate disinfection of her facilities after 26 of her personnel tested positive for COVID-19. This followed the incidence of the death of the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 6 Division, Port Harcourt, Major-General Johnson Irefin.

Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Sagir Musa, who made the revelation in a statement in Abuja, also said that a total of 417 personnel had been tested as at Sunday in line with the directive of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, that all officers who attended the cancelled COAS conference be isolated and tested.

According to him, the late GOC, who died of COVID-19 complications on December 10, was among the officers who attended the conference in Abuja. He said that the cause of his death was reported as respiratory failure secondary to the complications of COVID 19.

“On the confirmation that Gen. Irefin’s COVID-19 test was positive on December 9, the Chief of Army Staff directed the immediate suspension of the conference.

“Consequently, as at Sunday the December 13, a total of 417 personnel have so far been tested with 26 confirmed positive cases. Currently, all participants are in self-isolation irrespective of their results while Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC)-recommended COVID-19 treatment drugs were immediately issued to those that tested positive,” he said.

Brig-Gen. Musa said 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. He also revealed that the entire Army Headquarters complex was thoroughly fumigated and disinfected on Saturday December 12.