COVID-19: Army sends generals, officers on isolation after death of general

The Nigeria Army has cancelled its annual Chief of Army Staff conference in what is believed to be connected to the death of the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 6 Div, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, Major General Olu Irefin.

Irefin passed on Thursday in Abuja after suddenly taking ill from health complications related to COVID-19.

Sadly Irefin was appointed GOC of the 6 Div in July this year, after his last tour of duty as  GOC 81 Division, Nigerian Army, Lagos.

Following his death, the Army has cancelled the CoAS conference and asked all participants to be in self-isolation.

A statement by Army spokesman, Brig-Gen Sagir Musa, on the cancellation reads:

CANCELLATION OF THE REMAINING ACTIVITIES OF CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF’s ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2020

1. 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.

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.

SAGIR MUSA 
Brigadier General 
Acting Director Army Public Relations