The kinsmen of John Olu Irefin, a major-general and the
general officer commanding (GOC) of 6 division of Nigerian army, have rejected
the claim of the military authorities that he died from COVID-19 complications.
Irefin was attending the annual chief of army staff
conference in Abuja before he took ill and died.
The army authorities had immediately canceled the
conference, directing all the participants to go into isolation.
But military sources who spoke said it was difficult to accept that the general died from COVID-19 as he was healthy when he was spotted at the conference.
“As the protocol demands, every officer and participant was
screened before entering the conference. If Irefin had been battling with
COVID-19, I suppose the symptoms would have been there as his death happened
almost immediately,” a source said.
“He was very active. No sign he had fever. It was shocking
when the news of his death came.”
The Aiyetoro-Gbede community in Kogi state where Irefin hailed from said they are suspecting that he was murdered.
In a statement signed by A.A Aminu, a spokesman of the
Ayetoro Development Association, called on the authorities to investigate the
general’s death.
The kinsmen argued that COVID-19 couldn’t have killed the
general within such a short period.
They also questioned the army over its “haste in the burial”
of Irefin.
“We should not forget that General Olubunmi Irefin was in
Ayetoro Gbede two weeks ago for the burial ceremony of his late mother. During
the brief period of his stay at home, he was full of life, and, observers will
agree that every movement of his was with military precision,” the statement
read.
“Suddenly, a signal came to him from Abuja to attend the
Chief of Army Staff Conference which started last Monday (December 7, 2020).
“We did not hear of his sickness until the sad news came to
us yesterday, 10th December, 2020 that the General died of Covid -19; and the
sudden rush for his burial on 12th December, 2020.
“The mouthpiece of Ayetoro-Gbede community namely,
Ayetoro-Gbede Traditional Council and Ayetoro-Gbede Development Association
were not happy with the military establishment over the reason it claimed was
responsible for the death of General Olubunmi Irefin for the following reasons:
“If the incubation period of COVID-19 is two weeks after
which the victim will start to show symptoms like high fever, severe headache
etc, is that the case for late General Olubunmi Irefin? Even if the symptoms
mentioned above manifest in the general, does it also kill its victim
instantly?”
“Common logic should tell us that General Irefin at younger
age, even if it is true that he contracted COVID -19 should be able to battle
it for a longer period of time. Except there is C0VID-20 which we doubt,
COVID-19 does not kill its victims within three days. Why the sudden haste in
the burial of the general by the military authority?”
The community said not until “convincing answers” are
provided by the military authorities, the Ayetoro-Gbede community will remain
in doubt.
Sagir Musa, army’s spokesperson, did not immediately respond
to a message, asking if the army authorities would make public an autopsy on
the deceased.
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So much for over 780 positive case some days back.
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