By Kazeem Qudus
There are fears across the nooks and crannies of Nigeria that the deadly coronavirus (Covid-19) may after all, be spiralling out of control.
Since the outbreak of the coronavirus in Nigeria, on February 27, imported by an Italian, Lagos has remained the epicentre of the pandemic.
However, there are fears and panic especially in northern Nigeria that Kano state may soon overtake Lagos.
Prompt News reports that while @NCDCgov announced Kano’s first confirmed case of Covid-19 on April 11, within 10 days, the number has risen to 59.
More disturbing is the DAILY TRUST report that no fewer than 150 people who reportedly died in Kano between Friday and Saturday last week have been buried in three cemeteries.
While the cause of the massive deaths has been determined as at press time, residents of Kano are in subdued panic mood, nursing the fears it could be as a result of rising community transmission of the deadly #Covid-19.
According to Daily Trust, “Undertakers who doubled as grave diggers in the affected cemeteries said the frequency at which they received corpses these days was unusual when compared with the number of people they buried before the coronavirus outbreak.
The figure of the dead buried in the three cemeteries excludes other people buried in dozens of burial grounds in the eight local government areas that constitute Kano metropolis, though those working in such cemeteries said they did not notice anything unusual.
Also, authorities in Kano, community leaders, families of the deceased and medical officials have given different opinion on the matter with the state ministry of health saying it was investigating the matter.”
In a statement signed by the information officer in the ministry of health, Hadiza M. Namadi said, “The attention of Kano State Ministry of Health has been drawn to a post being circulated on social media platforms on purported death of number of people within two days and buried in some cemeteries within Kano metropolis.
“As the ministry could not immediately verify the veracity of the claim going round, the state Commissioner of Health, Dr. Aminu Ibrahim Tsanyawa, hereby assured the general public that investigation into the matter is ongoing to verify the claim and possible causes of the deaths.
“Dr. Tsanyawa also assured that the public will be informed on the outcome of the investigation in due course.”
Prompt News reports that as at Monday night, April 20, 2020, the total number of confirmed cases in Nigeria was 665 with Lagos retaining the unpleasant title of epicentre with 376 cases, followed by FCT – 89 and Kano – 59.
However, the good news is that hundreds have also recovered and have been reunited with their families.
While 188 patients who had tested negative twice and fully recovered have been discharged, we have also unfortunately recorded 22 deaths including Mr Abba Kyari, Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari.
