We Conducted A Verbal Autopsy And Found That The ‘Mysterious’ Deaths In Jigawa Was Not Caused By Covid-19 — LG Boss

The reported mysterious deaths in Hadejia Local Government Area of Jigawa State were not caused by COVID-19, the local government chairman Alhaji Abdullahi Maikanti has said.

Maikanti told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that a verbal autopsy conducted revealed the deceased were elderly people with underling medical conditions.

He also refuted media reports that over 100 people died in the area in a space of 10 days.

The council chairman said:

After we conducted a verbal autopsy and visited Gawuna and General Hospital burial grounds, we concluded that 47 people died from April 30 to May 6.

The deceased were aged between 70 and 100 years, and had been battling with illnesses like hypertension, asthma, and stroke among others for many years.

In all our investigation, the deceased did not show symptoms of COVID-19. 

Maikanti stated that the council had intensified sensitisation of residents on social distancing, coughing and sneezing etiquette as well as the need for frequent hand washing.

He also disclosed the council is taking preliminary action in combating the virus.

The council recently intercepted three buses that conveyed traders to a “wet market” in the area.

Maikanti told NAN:

Most of the traders came all the way from Bayelsa and Benue to buy frogs in the market.

Our fear is that these people may carry the virus and infect our people in the market.

But we later released the vehicles after their owners showed remorse and wrote an undertaking that they would steer clear of Hadejia and its markets for now.

The state government had earlier constituted a five-man committee to investigate the spate of deaths in the area and recommend possible solutions to the problem.

The committee, chaired by Dr. Mahmud Abdulwahab is expected to submit its findings on May 7.