By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Department of Public Health at the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has once more reiterated that there is no confirmed case of Corona Virus in Abuja, urging residents of the nation’s capital city to remain calm.
Director of Public Health, Dr Josephine Okechukwu, maintained that Nigeria is presently free of the Coronavirus as there is no confirmed case of the disease anywhere in the country.
The health expert gave this clarification in reaction to the arrest and parading of some alleged pranksters by the police. The television crew went to the Wuse District Hospital claiming that one of them had been infected by the virus, an action which led to panic and confusion at the hospital.
Mrs Okechukwu described the action as very wrong as it was capable of creating pandemonium especially in a hospital environment where the alleged action took place.
She, however, added that if such false information was released on the social media, it would do great damage not just to the FCT but the country at large.
While parading the suspects at the Wuse Zone 3 Divisional Police Station, the FCT Force PRO, DSP Anjuguri Manza, said that the suspects namely Peggy Shandi (M), Abayomi Adedoyin (M), David Gold Enemigin (M) Priscilla AJesola (F) and Jacob Oji (M) claimed to be playing out a script about the virus without the knowledge or authorization of the relevant authorities of FCTA.
He said an investigation into the activities of the suspects was ongoing and that at the conclusion of the findings, the suspects will be arraigned in court.
The Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Media, Mr Sani Abubakar, described the actions of the suspects as appalling and stated that if found guilty of a crime, the full weight of the law should be brought to bear on the suspects so as to serve as a deterrent to others who might want to tow a similar line.
One of the suspects, Peggy Shandi said that their action was merely a prank about the Corona Virus.
Adedapo Adesanya 
Aduragbemi Omiyale