Controversy trails Yobe COVID 19 index case, patient insist he is not positive, threatens not to accept any medication

Chair Yobe COVID 19,  Deputy Gov. Hon. Idi Barde Gubana and Vice Chair, Dr. Gana at the Media  briefing on Thursdays in Damaturu

Controversy trails Yobe COVID 19 index case, patient insist he is not positive, threatens not to accept any medication

From Duku JOEL, Damaturu

The least is not heard of the COVID 19 index case in Yobe as the suspect has maintain that his complain does not suggest any case definition of habouring the virus.

But the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC and Yobe State Government have both confirmed that the 29 year old banker was tested positive of the virus.

The NCDC last night, Wednesday released a total of 196 cases where Yobe was included to have recorded her index case since the outbreak of the virus.

On Thursday morning, 30^th April, 2020, The State Deputy Governor, Hon. Idi Barde Gubana who is also the Chairman of the State Committee on the Prevention and Control of COVID 19 at a press briefing in Damaturu also announce the index case to the people of the state.

Hon. Idi Barde at the press briefing enjoined the people of the state to continue to take precautionary measure against the disease by regularly washing their hands, observe social distance, wearing of face masks in public places etc to fight the spread of the disease.

The commissioner for Health, Dr. Mohammed Lawan Gana who is the Vice chairman of the Committee disclosed that the non travel history of the patient could be a possibility of Community spread in the state, adding that, the state contact committee has already commenced work to establish and unraveled some of the questions surrounding the mystery.

But the patient (name withheld) in a telephone conversion with our correspond from his isolation facility insists that he does not have the virus.

He maintained that he presented himself to the hospital with a fever and catarrh and was surprised that he ended up in a COVID 19 isolation center event with a normal temperature and normal oxygen.

He also informed that he was not officially been contacted but he has already heard people calling him and spreading the rumours that he is covid 19 positive.

Dr. Mohammed Lawan Gana, Com Heath, Yobe Vice Chair, Yobe COVID 19 Committee 

He demanded documentary evidence of his test from the officials of the committee and representative of the NCDC or threaten not to take any medication from the facility.

Below is the full except of his conversation with our reporter, JOEL DUKU on phone in Damaturu.

I came to the hospital on Monday and complained about catarrh and fever and the doctor advised that I go to the Isolation center and be treated under covid 19. Up till now the result has nit come out and rumour have gone everywhere that I have covid 19. And officially I have not been told of any thing concerning the result. I don’t know what is happening. I have not seeing or heard anything.

Travel history.

No, no, I did not travel. I am nit the twyp that likes traveling, the last time that I think I left Yobe was in 2018 and the last time I went to Maiduguri is about eight months. So I don’t know how come.

So where do you think you could have gotten this virus?

Honestly, I don’t know.

How are you feeling now?

I am not feeling anything for now. But I said let me wait and see what they can do. But I am telling you, I am not felling feverish and no fever again.

What about your temperature?

My temperature is 36.5 as of yesterday evening. My oxygen is reading 100/1000. Gaskiya the thing is confusing me now. I am seriously confused.

Do you know that officially Yobe has been confirmed of having one case of COVID-19?

Yes I saw it too. I saw it on my phone. I have my phone here and I am browsing

What is the bank saying?

The bank for now hasn’t said anything because there is not official statement. But me I want to see documented evidence from the ncdc that clearly defined that I have this COVID or I don’t have and I am not going to accept any medication without providing an evident that I have this thing or not.

Do you have any medical history this people know?

I have a medical history of allergy with dust and fan, I had a nose surgery last year. Honestly, I am confused and I don’t know what to say again.

Our correspondent who also visited the new generation bank where the patient works gathered  that all the staff of the branch   have been advised to stay off from office as one of their colleagues is suspected to have tested positive of the COVID 19 virus.

Some staff of the bank who spoke to our correspondent in Damaturu gathered that, the Yobe State COVID-19 asked them to stay off the office because they were coming to de-contaminate the office.

The Nation also gathered that, all the staff of the branch have been asked to proceed on self-isolation for a period of 14 days as part of measures to stop the spread of the virus.

R-L Commissioners of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Environment and Religious Affairs during the media briefing 

Investigation however revealed that the travel history of the case of the suspected victim

indicate that he has not travelled out of Damaturu in the last eight months.

Some of the staff are still expressing reservation on the said result due to the fact that their colleague has not travelled to any of the high burden states of COVID-19.

A medical personal revealed at the State Specialist Hospital who does not want to be mentioned said; “if the result of is positive as it is being speculated, and that the suspect did not travel out of the state for that period of time as being said, then there is already community spread of the virus in the state”.

Speaking on the action of the patient, the Vice Chairnan of the Yobe COVID 19 committee and Commissioner for Health, Dr. Gana, said, “it a normal reaction of patients to this kind of issues but I believe he will pull through and come along eventually”.

published by The Nation

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Breaking: Gov. Buni meets President Buhari over security, worries over access to farmlands by farmers

Gov. Buni

Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni has today Thursday  met with the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, president Mohammadu Buhari in the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.

The Director General, Press Affairs and Media to Gov. Mai Mala Buni, Mamman Mohammed in state made available on his facebook page said the governor and the president discussed on the security challenges in the state and strategies to allow access to farmlands by farmers in the state.

The statement added that the governor is concerned about the security challenges in the state as the farming season approaches and therefore seeks the support of the president to provide an enabling security for the teaming farmers in the state.

The governor he said,  has equally pledged his continued  support to security agencies in the state as his mandate and responsibility to protect the lives and property of his people.

The statement also disclosed the commitment of the president in the ongoing fight against the Boko Haram insurgents and other elements of criminalities in the state and the entire region and the country at large.

The statement reads:

“His Excellency Yobe state Governor, Hon. Mai Mala Buni on Thursday met with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential villa Abuja, to discuss issues bordering on security across the state.

“The Governor said the meeting was imperative to strengthen security in the state as we approach the farming season for people to cultivate their farms without challenges.

“Governor Buni expressed the readiness of the state government to continue supporting security organisations in their efforts towards establishing sustainable peace and security in Yobe state.

“Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has assured that the ongoing fight against insurgency will be sustained to ensure total security in the affected states.

“He called on the affected state governments and people to cooperate with security agencies operating in the region,”

ImpactOnlineNigeria observed that Gov. Buni left Damaturu yesterday after he has been in town since his return to the state one month ago.

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Amidst COVID 19, Yobe approves over N17 billion for projects

Yobe State government today Wednesday 29^th April 2020 ratified and approved new projects amounting to over N17.5 billion.

The approvals were effected at the second ever meeting of the State Executive Council since inauguration in May 29, 2029.

Despite the approvals of the huge sum of money, the state government has also disclosed that it will slash downward its 2020 budget size of N108 billion to an undisclosed figure due to the fall in oil prices which has projected every government revenues downward.

The State Commissioner for Information, Abdullahi Bego said Gov. Buni has already directed the Secretary to the State Government to workout the review of the budget with the State Ministry for Budget and come out with an appreciable result.

One the projects rectified by the Executive council, The Commissioner for Information, Abdullahi Bego with three of his colleagues from Environment, Housing and Transport and Energy disclosed that the sum of N15,957,202,322 was ratified as loan for the construction of 3600 houses for the state.

ImpactOnlineNigeria  reports that the foundation laying stone ceremony for the Housing Project was done in September last year when Gov. Buni marked one hundred days in office. The project has however not come on-stream until the recent approval.

Investigation also revealed that the cost of the project will be funded through a loan from the Federal Ministry of Finance through Family Homes Funds, a social housing initiative based in Abuja.

Mr. Bego also disclosed that government has ratified the sum of N1,086,875,000.00 for the supply of 50 Toyota Hiace Hummer Buses for the Yobe Transport Service Ltd.

Another project approved was the construction of 1km access road and 2km concrete drainage connecting Obasanjo Estate and Mallum Matari while three million seedlings and rehabilitation of three nurseries at Nguru, Gashua and Bayamari respectively at the sum of N273,582,463.50 and N136, 000,000 respectively.

For the records, Yobe has not disclosed how much it has earmarked for the fight against the COVID 19 pandemic in the State except the governor’s decision and his deputy including other political officer holders and some senior civil servants of the state to donate half of their salaries to the fight against the virus.

The committee has not however public any donation from individuals or group to the sub-committee on Resource Mobilization.

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Yobe denies suspension of village head over complaint on water scarcity

Yobe State government has denied report that it suspended a village head over complaints on water scarcity in his domain.

The report which is credited to Sahara reporters noted that the village head of Kadi in Fika Local Government was suspended on the institutions of the State APC Treasurer, Mohammed Gadaka.

According to the report, the Party stalwart recommended the suspension of the village head through the Emir of Gudi.

But in a swift reply, the Spokesman to Governor Mai Mala Buni, Mamman Mohammed said the entire publication is an act of “Mischief and cheap blackmail”.


It has come to our notice a purported media report  by Sahara Reporters captioned "Yobe state Governor, Buni, suspends Village Head for Complaining of Water Scarcity".


The statement added that the state governor only got to know of the said suspension from the same report that is accusing him, while expressing dismay with the kind of journalism that Sahara Reporters engages in.

The statement noted that water, education, agriculture and water supply are the top priorities of Governor Buni and therefore cannot make someone a scapegoat for playing in the vision of the Governor.

The statement reads:

“The report is just an act of mischief and a cheap blackmail intended to mislead the public to give His Excellency the governor a bad name.

“Surprisingly, we got to know of the purported suspension in the said report. Therefore, His Excellency  wouldn't have taken action on what he has no knowledge of.

“For those who are conversant with the character of His Excellency Governor Mai Mala Buni, he always has listening ears to peoples' problems and a very good heart of extending goodwills to solve such problems.

“It becomes ironical for a person with this pedigree, to suddenly reprimand a community leader who is complaining for a public interest.

“The report is unkind to have reduced the personality of a governor to the suspension of a village head.

“It is equally most unfortunate that Sahara Reporters lacked the courtesy and the basic etiquette of reaching out to the relevant quarters to balance and verify their report before going public which is putting the reputation of the media organizations to disrepute.

“We therefore put the records straight that, His Excellency Governor Mai Mala Buni, has not heard of any suspension of a village head, has nothing to do with any purported suspension and will never encourage same for any one who will make case on behalf of his people.

“It is also imperative to note that education, water, agriculture and power supply were among key sectors recieving government  attention.

“The general public is hereby advised to disregard the baseless and fictitious report in its entirety,” the statement said.

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COVID-19: North East Commission donates relief, two ambulances to Yobe

Yobe Deputy Governor Hon. Idi Barde Gubana, Chairman COVID 19 committee in Yobe Srate and the commissioner for Helath, Dr. Mohammad Lawan Gana in one of the ambulances donated by  NEDC in Damaturu

The North East Development Commission (NEDC) has donated food relief and two ambulances to Yobe State as part of their intervention in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

ImpactOnlineNigeria reports that the Commission had earlier donated some medical equipment and consumables such as two sets of ventilators, 1000 surgical masks, 32 infrared thermometers, 400 hand gloves, 1800 personnel protection equipment and hand sanitizers among others to the state.

The Managing Director of NEDC  Mohammed  Goni Alkali said the donations are part of the mandate of the commission to the north-eastern states in times of crisis.

 The MD who was represented by the Executive Director Finance and Administration of the commission Alhaji Mohammed Jawa Gashu’a disclosed that the commission is also poised to fighting the pandemic in the region, while calling on citizens of the state to observe the basic hygiene directives from medical experts to preventing the disease.

This is just one of the interventions that the commission is making to the state. It’s a continuous exercise and we will continue to intervene in the areas that our people need us most. This is part of the mandate why the commission was establish and we will not relent in doing that.

Yobe Deputy Gov, Idi Barde Gubana collecting keys to the ambulances from the ED, Finance/Admin, NEDC, Mohamed Jawa Gashua yesterday in Damaturu 

“This  time around we are supporting the state government with two brand new ambulances, food items and condiments. The food items are 5100 bags of rice, 1000 bags of maize floor, 13, 000 gallon of vegetable oil, spaghetti 1100 cottons, and tomato paste among others”, the MD disclosed.   

While receiving the items on behalf of the government of Yobe State, the Deputy Governor and Chairnan State COVID 19 committee, Hon. Idi Barde thanked the NEDC for their support to the state in the cause of fighting the virus.

Hon. Idi Barde Gubana noted that the state has maintained a zero status since the outbreak of the pandemic, assuring that the items will be put to the best use for the purpose they were donated.

“We cannot thank the commission enough for what they are doing to the state especially at this material time and the donations they have given to the state. we are going to put everything into the best use and the food items will get to the vulnerable which it is meant for”, Gubana assured.

He regretted that, the commission will have to battle with the pandemic instead of rebuilding a region that has been ravaged by Boko Haram.

 “It is unfortunate that the commission established to rebuild destructions caused by the activities of Boko Haram insurgents will have to handle another challenge of a disease triggered by the global pandemic in the name of  corona virus”, he said.

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Boko Haram: Gov. Buni commends Army Chief over relocation to northeast

Lt. Gen. YT Buratai addressing troop yesterday at Ngamdu Army Super Camp

Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni says  the relocation of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai and other top brass of the military to the northeast is a big boost to the fight against the Boko
Haram insurgency.


According to the governor, in a statement released to the press in Damaturu by his spokesman, Mamman Mohammed said the action of the Army Chief will motivate the troops and give them confidence and vigour to
give a final blow to the insurgents.

The statement also quoted the governor as commending the support of the president, Mohammadu Buhari to the fight against the insurgency in the state.


Gov. Buni also used the occasion to call on the people of the state to cooperate with security agencies by giving  useful information to security agencies and reporting any suspicious movement around their communities.

He called  on the people to obseve all preventive measures against the COVID 19 pandemic.

Below is the full text:


“His Excellency, Governor Mai Mala Buni has applauded the interim relocation of the Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai and other top military officers to the North East in a renewed operation to clear the menace of the Insurgency in the region.


“Gov. Mai Mala Buni described the presence of the Chief of Army Staff and his officers in the frontline states, as motivation to officers and men in the battle field to fight with vigour, confidence and resilience.

“The Governor commended the President and Commander-in-chief of the Nigerian Armed forces, Muhammadu Buhari for his continued support to end the insurgency.


“His Excellency further called on the people of the state to remain vigilant and volunteer timely information on any suspicious movement and persons in their communities.

“He encouraged citizens to observe the preventive measures against the Covid 19 virus pandemic,” the statement said.

ImpactOnlineNigeria reports that Gen. Buratai at the Eater celebration with troops at Army Special Camp in Ngamdu yesterday vowed to lead the troops through the valleys, hills and waters until Boko Haram is substantially degraded.

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