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The kinsmen of the late General Officer Commanding (GOC), 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Olu Irefin 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 took ill and died.
The army authorities had immediately canceled the conference, directing all the participants to go into isolation.
But the Aiyetoro-Gbede community in Kogi State where Irefin hailed from said they suspected that he was murdered.
In a statement signed by A.A Aminu, the spokesman of Ayetoro Development Association, the town called on military authorities to investigate the General’s death.
The kinsmen argued that COVID-19 couldn’t have killed the Irefin 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.
“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 statement said.
The community said not until “convincing answers” are provided by the military authorities, the Ayetoro-Gbede community will remain in doubt.