BREAKING: General Attending Chief of Army Staff Conference Dies of COVID-19

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja

John Olu Irefin, major-general and general officer commanding (GOC) six division, Port-Harcourt, Rivers state, has died of complications from COVID-19.

The GOC was attending the annual chief of army staff conference in Abuja before he took ill and died.

He was GOC 81 Division in Lagos before his posting to Port Harcourt this year.

The conference has been cancelled by the army and participants comprising principal staff officers, GOCs, commandants of army schools, commanders of army operations have been asked to go into isolation for 14 days.

Sagir Musa, acting director of army public relations, announced the cancellation of the conference in a statement on Thursday, saying it was to prevent any further spread of the disease.

“The Nigerian Army wishes to inform members of the public that due to resurgence of COVID 19 Pandemic in the Federal Capital Territory Abuja in what appears to be a second wave of infection cycle and the unfortunate incident on Tuesday 8 December 2020, where an officer participating in the ongoing Chief of Army Staff’s Annual Conference 2020 here in Abuja tested positive to COVID 19, the remaining activities of the conference have therefore been immediately cancelled,” he said.

“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.

“All inconveniences hereby regretted, please. Thanks for your usual understanding and cooperation.”