How deputy commissioner of police ‘died at his apartment’ of COVID-19

By our reporter| The deputy commissioner police in charge of zonal criminal investigation department in Benin, Edo state, Francis Bissong, died from COVID-19 complications “at his official apartment” in Benin, on Tuesday.

Edo state commissioner of information, Patrick Okundia, on Tuesday last week made the death of the officer public but did not reveal details surrounding his demise.

But the assistant inspector-general of police in charge of zone 5, Benin, Yakadi has released a statement narrating the circumstances that lead to the death of the late police commissioner.

According to Yakadi, on April 9, the deceased travelled to Akure, Ondo state capital, to see his family and celebrate Easter with them.

He was said to have returned to Benin five days later, where he complained of illness after developing symptoms of high fever.

He subsequently went into self isolation.

The statement read, “On April 18, the blood sample of the officer was taken by the medical doctor in charge of the police medical services, Benin city for examination and analysis and incidentally, the result of the analysis came out on April 21, to be Covid-19 positive.”

“The officials of the Nigeria Centre For Decease Control (NCDC) were immediately contacted, who came to evacuate him to the isolation centre and treatment, but were shocked to have discovered that the officer died an hour before their arrival at his official residence.”

“For the purpose of clarity and to put the record straight, the late officer died in his official quarters beside Zone 5 Headquarters, Benin City.”

The statement further stated that Police officers who interacted with the late DCP have reportedly gone into self isolation while Bissong’s orderly, driver, cook, cleaner and other domestic staff are also under quarantine.