Panic at NYSC camp as resident officer ‘dies of COVID-19’

A resident officer of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has reportedly died of COVID-19. 

According to The PUNCH, the officer, whose name was withheld, was posted to the permanent orientation camp in Kano a few days before he developed COVID-19 symptoms and died on Tuesday.

The deceased officer reportedly went to the Kano camp where he represented Shuaibu Ibrahim, the director-general of the NYSC.

The development is said to have caused panic within the orientation camps in Abuja and Kano.

“The resident officer,  who was posted from the NYSC National Headquarters in Abuja to Kano State NYSC permanent orientation camp died early this (Tuesday) morning as a result of COVID-19,” the newspaper quoted a source to have said.

“But very, unfortunately, the NYSC management and the NCDC are trying to hide the case. The officer and representative of the DG was tested by the doctors and the NCDC who confirmed that the officer died as a result of COVID-19 in the camp. Right now, multiple numbers of the NCDC staff are in the camp.”

However, Emeka Mgbemena, NYSC deputy director, press and public relations, who confirmed the death of the officer, said he died outside the orientation camp.

“Indeed, NYSC lost an officer. In keeping with COVID – 19 protocols, everyone,  including the DG, must subject themselves to COVID-19 test. Only those that test negative are allowed into the camps”, Mgbemena said.

“The officer in question was suspected of COVID-19. Accordingly, the NCDC took over the case. Sadly, he succumbed to the cold hands of death in the course of treatment. It is imperative to state that he did not step into the camp, neither did he die there too. May his soul rest in perfect peace.

“Everybody in the camp, including resource persons, camp market operators were tested for COVID – 19. There’s no COVID-19 positive person in the 37 camps of the NYSC nationwide.”