By Akinwale Kasali
24 hours after Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi state publicly said that COVID-19 is a fraud, he got a huge support from gunmen.
The rampaging gunmen stormed the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja, and disrupted a Press Conference meant to enlighten the people on the Virus, and in the process; push for a testing centre in the state.
They arrived in three buses, shooting sporadically, had everybody running for dear life, and either destroyed or carted away documents and computers.
Since COVID-19 arrived Nigeria, Kogi State has been problematic.
The Governor has consistently rejected its existence in the state, and on Tuesday, said there was nothing like the Virus in Nigeria, thus, putting a lie to even President Muhammadu Buhari’s pronouncements to the world and Nigeria.
Bello said ” It is being insinuated in some persons for political and mischief purposes.”
He further said, “Do not give-in to fear and evil of COVID-19. It is a disease that has been imported, propagated, and forced on the people for no just cause. It is only out to create fear, panic and pandemic, orchestrated to reduce and shorten lifespan of the people”.
Bello has refused to cooperate with the Nigeria Centre for Dicease Control, and ordered its officials to be locked up when they came to pay him a courtesy call. Instead, Governor Bello says he is partnering with the Centre for Disease Control, CDC, USA.
Three people have died of COVID-19 in the state, including the Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Nasir Ajinah, but the Governor, onTuesday, denied he died of the Virus, telling the family and members of the public: “It’s a hoax. Nobody has died of COVID-19 in Kogi.”
The gunmen attack on Tuesday seems the climax in Kogi state.
