Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro, has appealed to Nigerians not to panic over the escape of 17 Ebola patients from their isolation centre in neighbouring Liberia, assuring that they will not be allowed to enter the country.

There has been apprehension in Nigeria since the news broke yesterday of the escape of 17 Ebola patients after an angry mob attacked a quarantine centre in the densely populated West Point township on Saturday evening.

The apprehension is understandable considering that the deadly Ebola Virus Disease was brought into the country by Liberian-American Patrick Sawyer, who died in a Lagos hospital on July 25, a day after being admitted as a result of vomiting and diarrhea while flying into Lagos from Monrovia.

Nigerians, however, need not panic, according to Minister Moro, who assured that the county’s borders are well secured to forestall any infiltration of Ebola patients from Liberia or any other country, including the 17 alleged escapees from the Liberian quarantine centre.

The Abuja-based LEADERSHIP quotes Moro as telling it last night that the country’s borders have been equipped with the necessary personnel and medical facilities to screen foreigners coming into the country.

The minister, according to the newspaper, said through his Special Assistant on Media, Mr. James Udoh: “I can tell you, without fear or favour, that our borders are well secured to curtail the spread of the Ebola virus and screen any foreigners coming into the country.

“Please note that the 17 Liberian Ebola patients who escaped from their isolation centre in Liberia will be disallowed from entering into the country. This is because every official under the ministry of interior and other security agencies at our borders have been placed on the alert over the Ebola virus, while necessary medical equipment are now in place to ensure that those who are not supposed to come into the country are disallowed.

“Our officials and other security agencies at the borders have been given the marching orders to ensure that no individual is allowed into the country unless such individuals are free from the virus and given a clean bill of health.”

•Photo shows Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro.