Authorities of the Nigerian Army have postponed the 2020 COAS Annual Conference in Abuja following a COVID-19 test carried by the army, which showed a resurgence of the disease in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
During a routine test, it was discovered that an army general (names withheld) tested positive to the dreaded disease.
The officer, Major-general Johnson Irefin, was participating at the army’s 2020 COAS Annual Conference in Abuja during which he fell ill and was taken to the hospital on Tuesday evening. He later tested positive for COVID-19 and was receiving treatment before he died.
It was gathered that the officer was the General Officer Commanding (GOC ) 6 Division of the army in Port Harcourt in Rivers State, and was until his appointment in July 2020 the GOC 81 Division Nigerian Army in Lagos.
Army spokesperson, Sagir Musa, had, in a statement on Thursday, reported the cancellation of the annual conference, which he attributed to the fact that a participant tested positive for COVID-19. He did not however mention the name of the army officer
The statement had also mandated all participants to immediately proceed on self-isolation, in line with the federal government’s protocol on COVID-19, and to prevent any further spread of the disease.
In the statement, Sagir said, “The Chief of Army Staff, on behalf of his family, feels honoured to sincerely appreciate, thank and welcome all dignitaries and invited guests to his son’s wedding slated for Friday, December 11.
“However, due to the resurgence of the pandemic in the FCT, Buratai will be unable to personally attend to, receive, or meet you at the event. All inconveniences are hereby regretted please,” Sagir had said.