The anger was as virulent as COVID-19 as many persons across handles and platforms on social media raged over the classic disobedience of Nigerian Centre for Disease (NCDC) regulations by government officials and private individuals at the prayers and burial rites for the late Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Mallam Abba Kyari.
Nigeria Everyday was not spared as we were bombarded by posts and comments after running a story while the burial was on.
Worse, a video went viral showing one of the men who allegedly participated in the burial rites removing and abandoning his Personal Protective Equipment (the white gown) right beside the Gudu Cementry in the heart of Abuja. Unknown to him, he was being filmed.
But in a quick statement after the video went viral, the Health and Human Services Secretariat of the FCT Administration (FCTA) assured the public that it had taken necessary measures.
A statement by Dr Mohammed Kawu, the acting Secretary Health and Human Services Secretariat said the FCTA noted with concern the video trending on social media, showing a man pulling off his Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) unprofessionally after participating in the burial of the late Kyari, at the Gudu cemetery, Abuja.
“The Public Health Department has since taken neccasry action. The said PPE left over by the individual has been professionally evacuated and the entire cemetery has been decontaminated. In addition, all the individuals including the man in question that participated in the burial and were not properly kitted have been identified and are being isolated.
“Necessary tests will conducted on all of them to determine their level of exposure and ensure that they do not infect other people.
“The Administration has also taken steps to ensure that all future burials of victims of COVID 19 are conducted in line with protocols established by the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
“Residents are therefore urged to remain calm and rest assured that the FCT Administration will continue to do all that is necessary to curtail and eventually end the spread of the Coronavirus in the FCT.”
It was also gathered that staff of a popular media outfit that participated in the funeral rites have also Ben put on self isolation.
Perhaps, an article that captured the anger was one circulating on different platforms.
It reads: “First they broke lockdown rules by flying him from Abuja to Lagos.
“Then they treated him privately at … in Ikoyi despite positivity and isolating other positive members of the public in isolation centre, some people by force despite personal protests.
“Then they flew his Covid 19 positive body back to the Federal Capital Territory for burial.
“Then they released his body for burial contrary to what Lai Mohammed said that Covid 19 dead bodies cannot be released for burial.
“Then almost 500 – 1000 people gathered for the burial effectively breaking Federal Government rule that not more than 20 or even 50people can gather at a point in time.
“Then, they dug a shallow grave for the body in the centre of town, gudu cemetry.
“And some there neither wore masks or any other PPE, especially the grave diggers.
“A man in Green native without PPE even touched the body whilst helping the workers in PPE.
“Some workers in PPE were even seen touching their faces and goggles after touching the body with some’s clothes visibly running the dead body under from their PPE as they lowered the body into the shallow grave.
“And the body was buried in just white traditional robes. No protection nothing for the people, or the environment.
“No protection from possible thieves/scavengers who may want to come scavenge dead bodies in the middle of the night after burial.
“No accounting for or planning that every one at the burial must self isolate for 14 days after the burial.
“How is this leading by example? How does a government make the rules and then shamelessly break the rules on National Television for all to see.
“Abuja should brace for impact in the next 14 days.”
