The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, Major-General John Olu Irefin, has died of complications from COVID-19 in Abuja.
Irefin was also the land component commander, Operation Delta Safe before his death.
It was gathered that Irefin, who was from Ayetoro Gbede, Kogi State, buried his mother two weeks ago.
He was GOC 81 Division in Lagos before his posting to Port Harcourt in July 2020.
The GOC was attending the annual Chief of Army Staff conference in Abuja before he took ill and died.
Meanwhile, the conference has been cancelled by the army, and participants comprising principal staff officers, GOCs, commandants of army schools, commanders of army operations have been asked to go into isolation for 14 days.
Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Sagir Musa, announced the cancellation of the conference in a statement on Thursday, saying it was to prevent any further spread of the disease.
“The Nigerian Army wishes to inform members of the public that due to resurgence of COVID-19 pandemic in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja in what appears to be a second wave of infection cycle and the unfortunate incident on Tuesday, 8th December 2020, where an officer participating in the ongoing Chief of Army Staff’s Annual Conference 2020 here in Abuja tested positive to COVID-19, the remaining activities of the conference have therefore been immediately cancelled.
“All the participants have been mandated to immediately proceed on self-isolation in line with the Federal Government’s protocol for COVID-19 and to prevent any further spread of the disease.
“All inconveniences is hereby regretted, please. Thanks for your usual understanding and cooperation,” Musa said.
