As a preventive measure to curb the spread of the deadly Coronavirus pandemic, Benue state governor, Samuel Ortom, has threatened to seize any corpse brought into the state, Afriupdate reports.
While meeting some warring communities in the state on Tuesday, Ortom directed that all corpses should be buried wherever they died or the government buries them anywhere.
He stated that the measure was not to punish anyone but to protect Benue residents.
The governor said that the corpses can only be granted access to the state if their family “strongly feel” there is a need for it.
Ortom, however, said medical reports must be provided if there is need to bury the corpses within the state.
“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.”
He further directed that anyone who fails to adhere to the directive be arrested.
Currently, Benue has recorded two COVID-19 cases.
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