NCDC planning to poison, kill me, Susan Okpe alleges

.Says she has been incarcerated for 57 days without medication

.We’re not responsible for collection of samples from patients – NCDC

Benue state COVID-19 index case, Susan Idoko Okpe, who has been in isolation for the past 57 days, has alleged that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) is planning to poison and kill her.

Susan in a new video recording that was uploaded online alleged that in spite the fact that her samples were taken five times for testing, there has been no outcome and nobody has spoken a word to her.

“I don’t know what you want to do with me. Maybe, you want to kill me. Maybe you want to poison me. If not, what else do you want with me?” she wondered.

While calling on Nigerians to come to her rescue, Okpe pleaded with the authorities to release her so that she can go home to her family.

“This is my 57th day of incarceration; 57th day of detention. I don’t know what to do anymore. I have been tested five times. My last test was on May 14.

“The NCDC came and took my sample. Up till this very moment that I am talking, nobody has spoken to me, given me any result; nobody has told me anything. I am wondering what exactly are they doing with me?

“I took the first test, second, third and fourth and they are saying that I have refused to take further tests. I have taken the fifth test already on Thursday.

“Please Nigerians, can somebody ask the NCDC what they want to do with me? I am not sick, I have never been sick since I have been here for the past 57 days.

I have not taken any medication. I have not fallen ill. I have not had a headache. I have not coughed and I am still here. I am locked up.

“Please Nigerians, can somebody help me ask because I am really tired. I miss my children, I miss my grandchildren. I am locked up here, nobody comes to see me. I am locked up in the isolation ward.

“I only peep out to get my food from people whom I trust that bring my food to me.

“Please, I beg of Nigerians, help me ask the NCDC or whoever is in charge, why am I being locked up here? What crime have I committed?

“If I have committed any crime, can they please arraign me before the court of law so that I know my fate. I am just locked up here for no reason. I am not sick. I am not sick. I have not taken any medication. Absolutely, nothing wrong with me.

“Please I don’t know what to do anymore and I don’t know what they want to do with me anymore.

“NCDC please! Give me the result and let me know what you want to do with me, but as I sit here, I am not sick,” she reiterated.

Meanwhile, the NCDC said it is not the agency responsible for the collection of samples from patients, or the transportation of confirmed cases to isolation/treatment centers.

The Centre further said that the body also does not make the results of COVID-19 tests available to patients.

“When a result emerges at any of the laboratories, it is made available to NCDC and the state epidemiologist.

“The task of informing a patient is the responsibility of the state epidemiologist and the ministry of health.

“NCDC’s role in the dissemination of test results is this: We receive the numbers from the laboratories (25 and counting), validate the numbers state by state, collate the figures nationally and then make the national announcement,” it stated.

The Daily Times recalls that the Benue state government had on March 28, announced the state’s first case of COVID-19 in Makurdi.

Okpe who had repeatedly insisted that she was not sick has been in isolation since the announcement.