Late Jeol Dewus, who was suspected to have contracted the COVID-19 disease and who died last Sunday would be buried on April 8 at his home Town, Bwonpe in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau.
Dewus was, however, confirmed to have died of some health complications, and not the Coronavirus.
A member of his family, Mr Danjuma Nuhu-Namang, disclosed this to our correspondent on Tuesday in Mangu.
Our correspondent reports that late Dewus illness had sparked panic and controversies amongst residents of Plateau as rumours were rife that he was suffering from Coronavirus.
He (Dewus) had been in a coma for two weeks before he finally died on April 5 at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) due to some health complications and not COVID-19, according to the State Government.
“We are set to bury our brother, late Dewus, on Wednesday in the village, Bwonpe: What is keeping us in the hospital now is non-settlement of the medical bills, which is about N75,000 only.
“The authorities of Mangu Local Government pledged to assist us in settling the bill and as soon as we receive their contribution, we shall offset the bills to enable us prepare for the burial tomorrow (Wednesday),” Nuhu-Namang said.
Nuhu-Namang, who is Secretary of Mwaghavul Development Association (MDA), Jos Branch, further disclosed that the deceased left behind a wife and six children.
Contacted, Mr Lawrence Danat, the Executive Chairman, Mangu Local government, said, “we have sent N50, 000 to the family to help them settle the medical bills of the late Dewus.
“As a council, we can only assist the family in the settlement of his (Dewus) medical bills, but not to take full responsibility of his burial.
“We do assist as a council when a corpse is abandoned or family members, like that of Dewus approach us for help.
“I have directed that funds be made available for them to settle his medical bill in preparation for his burial as they (family) said.
“When we were told of his predicament, we took him to the hospital for medical attention beginning from Na-Allah Na Kowa Hospital in Mangu Town to Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), where we unfortunately lost him.
“In fact, we quickly came in when he (Dewus) was suspected to be suffering from COVID-19.”
Also speaking, Wife to the deceased, Mrs Nanbam Joel, said, “we have received the sum of N50, 000 from the Local Government this morning of Tuesday.”
The widow expressed gratitude to the Chairman and management of Mangu local government for the good gesture.
On whether her late husband was a staff of National Assembly, the widow answered in the negative explaining, “he was driving a former Senator from the South West and not a full fledged staff of NASS.”
Mr Lar Ndam, State Commissioner for Health had on Sunday confirmed the death of Dewus to our correspondent, adding that he died of some health complications and not the COVID-19.
Ndam said, “Dewus had been in a coma for two weeks and died in JUTH due to some health complications and not COVID-19.”
