Kogi State Government has debunked claims of community transmission of coronavirus in Ogugu, Olamaboro local government area of the state.
In a statement issued by the Chairman of the State Squadron Committee on COVID-19, Chief Edward Onoja, the state government urged the general public to disregard the claims and go about their normal business activities as Kogi is yet to record a single case of COVID-19.
An indigene of the state, Rilwan Okpanachi, on Friday, claimed that himself, wife, along with his three year old daughter tested positive for coronavirus and are currently in isolation.
Okpanachi called on Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to move to Ogugu and arrest the community transmission going on there.
He stated that the rate of deaths ascribed to brief illness in the community in particular and Kogi State in general has assumed alarming proportion.
“We have been isolated at Idu Isolation Centre with our treatment underway.
“I started having symptoms such as fever, headache and lost of taste and smell from Ogugu, Olamaboro L.G.A, Kogi State.
“The death of my father in-law forced me to travel to Ogugu recently where all the guidelines put in place by NCDC were not observed.
“I urge anyone having symptoms such as fever, headache, fatigue, difficulty in breathing to go for testing without delay. We are very strong and in good condition,” Okpanachi said in a Facebook post.
However, the Deputy Governor, Chief Edward Onoja who hails from Ogugu, said extensive findings from community leaders, health practitioners and natives of the said location shows that Okpanachi has planted a false information intended to cause panic.
“Extensive findings from our team who contacted community leaders, health practitioners and natives of the said location highlighted by the alarmist shows that he has planted a false information intended to cause panic. No deaths have been recorded as alleged from symptoms of COVID-19.
“We are however curious as to how Mr. Realone Okpanachi was able to beat the interstate lockdown between Abuja and Kogi State to travel all the way from the epicenter of the virus into Ogugu. As a citizen, it is also an act of irresponsibility and violation of the COVID-19 guidelines that prohibits interstate travels as Nigeria battles with the virus which Kogi State is yet to record any case from the pandemic so far.
“We assure our citizens that no community transmission is ongoing at Ogugu at the moment, rather does anyone attest to the position of Mr Okpanachi, rather, we are suspicious of his motive for traveling with the virus from Abuja which is the epicenter in North Central Nigeria to Kogi state which is yet to record any case,” Onoja said.
