Major-General John Olu Irefin, the general officer commanding (GOC) six division, Port-Harcourt, Rivers state and land component commander, Operation Delta Safe has died of complications from COVID-19.
The deceased who was formerly the GOC 81 Division in Lagos before his posting to Port Harcourt in July 2020, had just buried his mother in Kogi a few weeks ago.
Irefin died while attending the Annual Chief of Army Staff Conference in Abuja, leading to the cancellation of the conference.
Sagir Musa, Acting Director of Army Public Relations in a statement released on Thursday December 10, said the conference was cancelled to prevent any further spread of the disease.
Musa said: “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 8 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 hereby regretted, please. Thanks for your usual understanding and cooperation.”
The event had President Muhammadu Buhari address participants virtually when it kicked off a few days ago. It has been attended by Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai; the Chief of Air Staff, Sadique Abubakar; Minister of Defence, Bashir Magashi; Chief of Defence Staff, Abayomi Olonisakin; and several highly ranked officers in the Nigerian army.