Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma

The Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, has ordered a compulsory COVID-19 test for security operatives attached to the Government House.

Our correspondent gathered that officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services and those of the National Security and Civil Defence Corps, are affected by the order.

The development followed the confirmation of COVID-19 index case in the state.

A security official attached to the Imo Government House, who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution, said the Chief Security Officer of the Government House handed down the directive.

He said the CSO acted on the orders of the governor.

The state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party had on Sunday, alleged that the COVID-19 index case in the state was one of the governor’s security aides.

The source said, “We were told to undergo COVID-19 test. The order was issued on Sunday after the pandemic was confirmed in the state on Saturday by the NCDC.”

When contacted, the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Declan Emelumba, said the COVID-19 compulsory tests for the governor’s security aides, “is an ongoing thing. It is not as a result of the fallout of COVID-19 which was confirmed in the state. It is an ongoing thing.”

PUNCH