The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Department of Public Health has once more reiterated that there is no confirmed case of Corona Virus in the FCT and advised residents to remain calm.
This reaffirmation was made by the Director of Public Health, Dr Josephine Okechukwu following the arrest and parading by the police of alleged pranksters who went to the Wuse District Hospital claiming that one of them had been infected by the Virus, an action which led to panic and confusion as well as a disruption of normal health service delivery at the Hospital.
Dr Okechukwu said that the FCT and indeed the country is free of the Coronavirus as there is no confirmed case of the disease anywhere in Nigeria.
She said the action of the alleged pranksters was very wrong as it was capable of creating pandemonium especially in a hospital environment where the alleged action took place. She however added that if such false information was released on the social media, it would do great damage not just to the FCT but the country at large.
While parading the suspects at the Wuse Zone 3 Divisional Police Station, the FCT Force PRO, DSP Anjuguri Manza, said that the suspects namely Peggy Shandi (M), Abayomi Adedoyin (M), David Gold Enemigin (M) Priscilla AJesola (F) and Jacob Oji (M) claimed to be playing out a script about the virus without the knowledge or authorization of the relevant authorities of the Federal Capital Territory’s Administration (FCTA).
He said an investigation into the activities of the suspects is ongoing.
The Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Media, Malam Sani Abubakar, described the actions of the suspects as appalling and stated that if found guilty of a crime, the full weight of the law should be brought to bear on the suspects so as to serve as a deterrent to others who might want to tow a similar line.
One of the suspects, Peggy Shandi said that their action was merely a prank about the Corona Virus.
The FCT Police Command is still investigating the case and on conclusion, the suspects will be arraigned court.
Abdullahi Musa
Information Officer
For: Head of Centre Abuja
