Malik Yahya/
Governor Bala Mohammedof Bauchi State says 15 persons who tested positive for COVID-19 in the state came from Calabar, capital of Cross River State, according to Channels Television.
Cross River is the only state yet to confirm any case of COVID-19 in the country.
The state government has repeatedly said the measures it put in place worked in making Cross River free of the disease.
In a veiled reference to Ben Ayade, his Cross River counterpart, during a press conference, yesterday, Mohammed said, “I don’t want to join issues with anybody. But I want to tell Nigerians that they are going to be accountable to God.
“There is no need pretending that this thing is not there. We, as leaders, must come out and face the challenges. We in Bauchi, we are not pretending.”
The governor also said the increase in the number of cases is as a result of people flouting the guidelines on containing the spread of the coronavirus, such as use of face masks and regular washing of hands.
He advised the people to comply with safety protocols, saying he would not hesitate to lock down the state if the need arises.
“Some of our places of worship, especially the mosques, they are the epicentre of infections, and nobody is doing anything.
“I am pleading with the people of Bauchi, if this thing continues to happen – we are bordered by seven states, some of them are worse – in order to secure the common people of Bauchi, I might have to lock up Bauchi,” the governor said.
The state currently has a total of 364 confirmed cases, while both the governor and Baba Tela, his deputy, have contracted the disease and recovered.
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