COVID-19: We’ll seize any corpse brought into Benue, says Ortom

Samuel Ortom, governor of Benue, has directed that no corpse should be brought into the state as a measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Ortom, who gave the directive while meeting some warring communities in Benue on Tuesday, said any corpse brought into the state will be seized.

He, however, gave an exception for families who “feel strongly” they want to bring the bodies of their loved ones into the state, saying such persons would obtain a medical report before doing so.

“In a situation where a family feels strongly that the corpse of their loved one should be brought into the state, they must obtain express permission from the state action committee on COVID-19,” he said.

“Such a family must produce a medical report of the dead person before moving it to the state.

“We will impound any corpse that will be brought into the state without any medical report. We will impound and bury it wherever we want.

“Bury the corpse of your loved ones where they died particularly in this trying period of COVID-19. The steps that we have taken against COVID-19 are not aimed at punishing anyone but to protect Benue people.”

The governor urged the security personnel to arrest anyone who disobeyed the law.

Benue has recorded two of Nigeria’s 4,641 COVID-19 cases.