As part of proactive measures to curtail the spread of COVID-19, Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has banned the transportation of dead bodies from any part of the country into the State for burial.
The Governor announced the ban while briefing journalists at the Government House on Tuesday after a peace meeting with leaders of warring Tsambe and Mbagwaza Communities in Ushongo local government area of the state.
Ortom was reacting to a corpse that was intercepted at the Buruku River crossing point which was brought in from Lagos and heading to Logo LGA.
He warned that any corpse found being moved into the state would be seized and buried by the State Action Committee on COVID-19.
Recall that last week, the Committee had intercepted a corpse, at Aliade, being brought in from Abuja to Konshisha, seized it and buried it in Makurdi.
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Our correspodent had gathered that the Buruku Council Chairman, Mrs. Dooshima Esther Orlu, on Monday night at about 11:30pm, intercepted a suspected COVID-19 corps coming from Lagos.
According to the Personal Assistant to the Chairman, Godwin Ikyaan, the Chairman immediately directed that the corpse and those who were conveying it be kept around the General Hospital in Buruku for onward hand over to the State COVID-19 Committee.
It was also gathered that the Marine boys who were to ferry the corpse across the river before they were apprehended have been quarantined.
Speaking on the matter, Gov. Ortom said the Chairman of the state COVID-19 had directed that no corpse should be brought into Benue state for now and that people should be buried wherever they die.
“The steps we are taking is not to punish anyone but it is about protection of lives. Prevention is better than cure,” the Governor stated.
