Apprehension As Death Toll In Kano Rises To 640 In One Week, Even As Gov Ganduje Confirms 74 New Corona Virus Cases
The 640 deaths recorded under one week in Kano state is causing palpable apprehension around the country, even as the official toll of confirmed coronavirus cases in the state is said to have increased by 74 on Saturday.
It will be recalled that earlier in the week, MDB reported that more than a 100 people had died mysteriously in the state, after undertakers and grave diggers raised alarmed over the influx of corpses. The cause of death was unclear, and some speculated it to be ‘ malaria or typhoid’.
Read Also; “We’re Becoming Overwhelmed’– Undertakers In Kano Worry Over Increasing Deaths
Barely a week later, the death toll has risen to 640, but alarmingly, the cause still remains unknown. The mystery shrouding these deaths have led to wide spread speculation that it could be the global pandemic coronavirus.
See some Twitter reactions below:
You people think COVID-19 can’t kill 600 people in one week?
At its peak in New York, it killed 806 people in one day, don’t stay ignorant, this pandemic is not a joke.
I really hope whatever is happening in Kano is not related to COVID-19 if not we don enter enormous mess up.
— UG (@UgwunnaEjikem) April 25, 2020
Kano was quick to split the Emirate.
Kano was quick to appoint new Emirs.
Kano was quick to dismiss a sitting Emir.
Kano was quick to exonerate the Governor despite video evidence of stealing money.640 people have died in 7days.
Kano has no plan and is not quick to do anything.— #OurFavOnlineDoc 🛂 (@DrOlufunmilayo) April 25, 2020
Over 600 people have died in Kano in just one week and all the Arewa Mafias and Twitter Warlords are nowhere to be found, now that they are needed to be visible the most.
All they know how to do is to insult and curse anyone that does not massage their hypocrisy and ignorance.
— Alhaji Royz🀄️ (@royzkingin) April 25, 2020
Over 600 mysterious deaths reported in Kano over the last 7 days ,COVID 19 death figure is less than 50 nationwide and because their tradition/religion says they must be buried within 24 hours after death the deceased families are refusing autopsy
Naija which way ?…— Dehkunle Of Africa💧 (@Dehkunle) April 25, 2020
Not sure if autopsies are prohibited in Islam but common sense dictates that they’re necessary when there’s an incidence of mass casualties frm an unverified illness like we’re seeing in Kano, esp during this pandemic.
Any argument against it solely on religious grounds is null.
— Adunni Achebe (@_Adadioramma) April 25, 2020
Kano be acting like we are in the Stone Age fgs.
Over 600people died within 7days in ur state & you’re acting like it’s not a big deal.The NO one step to solving a problem is knowing what the problem is; Run autopsies on victims then you can know the next & best steps to take.
— Tife🌚 (@Tife_fabunmi) April 25, 2020
The FG’s loud silence over the horrific stories coming from Kano is another indication that all Nigerians are equal, but some Nigerians are more equal. They swing into action when their darling states are at slight risk, but go missing when those they don’t care about are dying.
— Bulama Bukarti (@bulamabukarti) April 25, 2020
The Deputy Coordinator of Kano State COVID-19 Response Team, Dr. Sabitu Shuaibu who appeared on Channels TV on Saturday, confirmed the deaths, but clarified that the figure was recorded in the last one week and not in two days as insinuated by some persons on social media. He also refuted claims that all 640 people all died of coronavirus.
He said:
“Let’s say about an average of 100 deaths daily from Kano metropolis, but don’t forget that around 50 percent of the Kano population are within the metropolis. We can agree that there are deaths going on, but we also understand that there are deaths going on from other causes.
“We are saying that we are putting up a system to investigate if there is a link between COVID-19 and the deaths.
“There are deaths going on, it may include COVID-19 but people are also dying or other causes.”
Shuaibu’s clarification comes on the heels of the state Governor Abdullahi Ganduje’s confirmation of 74 new cases in the state, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 147.
Ganduje according to Daily Independent, disclosed this at a press briefing in Kano. He is quoted to have said:
“We have taken samples of 489 people, out of these number 74 were confirmed positive for the virus.”
But late Saturday night, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in its daily Covid-19 report, announced just 4 new cases in Kano, contradicting Gov Ganduje’s earlier announcement of 74 new cases in the state.
87 new cases of #COVID19 have been reported;
33 in Lagos
18 in Borno
12 in Osun
9 in Katsina
4 in Kano
4 in Ekiti
3 in Edo
3 in Bauchi
1 in ImoAs at 11:55 pm 25th April there are 1182 confirmed cases of #COVID19 reported in Nigeria.
Discharged: 222
Deaths: 35 pic.twitter.com/La5xzZZe2z— NCDC (@NCDCgov) April 25, 2020
This, as expected has left many confused, further fuelling the speculations that the alarming death toll in the state could be as a result of the coronavirus.
Prior to this confirmation, Kano State had 73 confirmed cases of Covid-19. With the new total of 147 cases, Kano now has the second highest number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Nigeria, surpassed only by Lagos with 689 cases.
