Godwin Akor, Makurdi
As a result of the ravaging Coronavirus in some parts of Nigeria, over 100 young men brought to Makurdi, the Benue State capital, along with some goods, have been identified and isolated for the mandatory period of 14 days.
The beggars, believed to be Almajiri boys, are said to be under the age of 20.
Speaking during the visit of the special squad of the state’s Action Committee on COVID-19 to where they were kept at Adikpo Street, in Makurdi, chairman of the committee and deputy governor, Engr. Benson Abounu, said the state government was worried by the development which has made people in the neighborhood to be complaining of influx of strange persons into the town because of COVID-19.
Abounu, who ordered that the young persons should be taken to an isolation center, rebuked the owner of the two houses at Adikpo street for accommodating people of no fixed address.
He maintained that the committee was doing everything possible to ensure that Benue remained COVID-19 free and urged members of the public to continue to be vigilant.
The deputy governor warned the landlords to desist from harbouring strange faces at this time, insisting that the law would take its full course if such a thing repeats itself.
Responding, the landlords (names withheld) explained that the young men were brought to learn trades like shoe mending and shoe shining, tailoring, cutting of fingers nails and so on.
It was gathered that if the boys do not show symptoms of COVID-19 after the 14 days of isolation, the Action Committee would subject them to tests to ascertain their status.
It would be recalled that some northern states including Kano decided to send Almajiris back to their states of origin in the wake of many deaths arising from strange diseases including COVID 19.
Also, Governor Samuel Ortom announced that the partial lockdown in the state would continue till further notice. President Muhammadu Buhari had also announced that Kano would be locked down as a result of the devastating effects of COVID-19 in that place.
