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There is tension in Anambra, Enugu and Delta following rumours that monkeypox virus were being injected in school children.
Parents in Onitsha, Enugu and Asaba raced to schools this morning to wothdraw their wards.
The rumours have it that the viruses were being injected rhrough the free medical outreach being carried out by the Nigerian Army in schools in the South East.
READ: Monkeypox: Anambra stops Army’s medical outreach, parents withdraw children from schools in Enugu
While the Anambra state government has asked the army to suspend the programme, the Delta State government has asked the people to disregard the rumours.
Below is a statement issued by the Delta State government:
The attention of the Delta State Government have been drawn to the fact that parents and guidance are going to schools to withdraw their children and wards out of panic.
This panic measure is based on the falsehood and rumors making the rounds that some persons or groups are going to schools to forcefully inject children to death.
Government hereby states without equivocation that there is no iota of truth behind this rumour as there is no vaccination currently going on in schools across the State.
The state government has advised school heads to ensure optimum security in their schools by paying attention to all children and wards until the close of schools when parents or guardians come to take them home.
Accordingly, the state Government has by this announcement advised Security agencies to be on the alert and to nip in the bud the antics of mischief makers who may want to take advantage of this falsehood and rumour to cause havoc.
Residents of the state are advised to be calm and go about their normal businesses.
Signed
Patrick Ukah
Honourable Commissioner for Information
Delta State.