Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi on Friday banned the release of corpses for burial in the state due the coronavirus pandemic.
While briefing newsmen on Friday, Governor Umahi frowned at citizens of the state who violated government directives on ban on burial ceremonies.
He ordered the arrest of two family members who conducted burials in two local government areas of Ezza South and Ikwo.
The governor also ordered the arrest of some policemen attached to the state police command for allegedly supervising the burial ceremonies that took place in the state.
He revealed the efforts of the state government towards tackling the dreaded coronavirus in the State, just as he directed the State Commissioner of Police, CP Awoshola Awotinde to ensure the arrest of all the policemen that supervised the burial ceremonies.
“Commissioner of Police, make sure that the policemen that supervised the burial are arrested and detained. Chairmen of Ezza South and Ikwo, I don’t understand how burial ceremonies will take place in your LGA and you people are not aware. This thing should stop. We should safeguard the lives of our citizens,” he said.
The governor, also directed the Vice Chancellor of Alex Ekuweme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, Ikwo to stop releasing corpses for burial in the State, in order to ensure the safety of citizens of the State.
He called on the Permanent Secretary of State Affairs, Mr. Austin Udude and Commissioner of Health, Dr. Daniel Umezuruike to identity 2 hotels within the capital which will be taken over by the State government to lodge medical workers in the fight against the scourge.
