Benue govt confirms second case of COVID-19 infection, says he’s an NDLEA official

The Benue State government has recorded its second case of the novel COVID-19 disease six weeks after its index case was confirmed by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

Governor Samuel Ortom who announced the new case at a news conference in the Government House, Makurdi on Tuesday revealed that the patient happens to be an officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (name withheld), who recently returned from Kano State.

According to Ortom, the victim who had already been taken to the state’s isolation centre located at Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi came into Benue from Kano towards the end of April.

Governor Ortom said, “It is unfortunate that I stand before you this morning to announce to you and Benue people that another case of COVID-19 has come to the state. His name is (name withheld). He is an indigene of Benue but works with the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency, Kano State Command.

READ ALSO: Benue to return 40 Almajiris who sneaked into Makurdi

“He came to Makurdi towards April ending and was immediately traced, quarantined and his sample taken to Abuja for a test but when the result came out, he tested positive.

“It is fortunate that the victim is cooperating with the state and I want to assure people that anybody with this kind of condition will not be neglected. Therefore, I want to urge everyone who had come into the state to come forward and present themselves to the committee for necessary action in their best interest.

“There is nothing wrong having you tested; even myself as a governor, I have tested for the disease but it came out negative while other governors tested positive. COVID-19 has no medicine, but its cure, for now, is to stay at home, maintain social distancing,” he added.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now