Governor of Ondo State, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has blamed the increase in confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state on the recklessness and indiscretion of men of the Nigerian police force.

 

Speaking at press briefing in Akure, the state capital, on Monday, Akeredolu disclosed that  Ondo confirmed the fourth and fifth cases on Saturday, while the sixth, seventh and eighth cases were discovered on Sunday

 

Akeredolu said the actions of the fourth and fifth cases amounted to disobedience and lack of tact on their parts, he added that despite having been tested for COVID-19 and awaiting results in Kano the two police officers decided to travel down to Ondo, hence jeopardising the health of others.

 

“The fourth and fifth cases, who are officers of the Police Command in Lagos State, were clear evidence of panic, disobedience, lack of discretion and reckless disregard for the well-being of others.

 

 

 

 

“The fourth case, the policeman, resident in Lagos, upon noticing symptoms of the viral infection, reported, got tested at Yaba and was told to wait for his results on April 20.

 

 

 

 

“On Wednesday, April 22, without his test results and any medical clearance, proceeded on an unfortunate journey to Akure where his family is based and got a message of his positive result on Thursday, April 23.

 

 

 

 

“He returned to Lagos late Thursday, claimed to have called the health authorities to fetch him for quarantine and treatment, but when they didn’t show up, he came back to Akure on Saturday in company of the fifth case.”

 

 

 

 

“His health status was discovered and he was immediately taken and placed on admission at our Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH) where he is undergoing treatment,” he said.

 

 

 

 

Akeredolu further explained that the sixth case was a murder suspect arrested in Edo and transferred to Ondo for trial of crime earlier committed in the state.

 

 

 

 

According to him, the seventh case was a female civilian who sneaked into Ondo from Abuja, while the eighth case was discovered in Owo and samples taken were confirmed positive late last night.