Four people have now died in Nigeria since Liberian-American Patrick Sawyer brought the virus to the country.

Nurse Justina Obi Ejelonu who attended to Patrick Sawyer who died of Ebola Virus Disease, at the First Consultant Hospital has died, PREMIUM has learnt.

Nurse Justina Obi Ejelonu who had been at the B Ward – a male ward which is now referred to as Ebola Ward – of the Yaba Mainland General Hospital, died in the early hours of Thursday.
25 year old Justina died this morning in a quarantine facility in Lagos.

By 1 p.m., Thursday, a couple of family relatives who are at the hospital were seen wiping away tears and making telephone calls.

Jide Idris, the state Commissioner for Health, who was at the hospital declined to confirm the development to News men.

The death of the nurse brings to four the number of people who have died of the virus in Nigeria.

Ms. Ejelonu, one of those who had primary contacts with Patrick Sawyer at a Lagos Hospital where he received treatment after he was rushed from the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos where he collapsed, was very vocal in the campaign for the release of the ZMapp experimental drug to Nigerian Ebola disease patients.

She was previously working at Otunba Tunwase National Peadiatric Centre, Ijebu Ode in Ogun state before relocating to Lagos to work at First Consultant Hospital Obalande months ago.
Also confirming the news of her death, the Abia state governor, Theodore Orji regretted the demise of the nurse, and commended her for her selfless service to the nation. In a statement issued on Thursday afternoon, the governor prayed for the repose of the dead.

He said: ”My heart bleeds as I write this. On behalf my family, the Government and the good people of Abia State, I commiserate with Family, Friends and Colleagues of our Dear Lady Nurse, Justina Echelonu, who died following the contact she had with the Liberian American, Mr. Patrick Sawyer, in the course of discharging her duty as a nurse. I pray God to give them the fortitude to bear this tragic and irreparable loss. Rest in Peace Ms Justina Echelonu.