TELL Magazine

As the state records two new cases

The Nigeria Police Force has lost one of its senior officers to the coronavirus disease, COVID-19. Francis Adie Bissong, a deputy commissioner of police, was until his death the Deputy Commissioner, State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, (SCID) in the office of the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 5 Headquarters, Benin-City. Bissong, who hailed from Cross River State and joined the Force March 3, 1990, was said to have taken ill April 14 and was being treated privately before the attention of the state government was called to his case.

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The state government also on Wednesday announced that it recorded two new cases of COVID-19 bringing the total of confirmed cases in the state to 17 and two deaths. Before the death of Bissong, the state had recorded only one death. As of today, the state now has eight active cases, seven discharged persons, and 142 suspected cases spread across 14 Local Government Areas (LGAs)of the state

 Speaking on the development, the state commissioner for health, Patrick Okundia, explained that about two days before Bissong’s death, the state surveillance team was called to have a look at him. Okundia said in the process, his sample was taken and it was sent to the laboratory while he continued with his drugs. “He was placed on self-isolation; however, the result came out and it was positive”. The health commissioner said before they could get to his house to move him, it was discovered that he had died that same day. “It is really unfortunate that the result came after the man had died”, Okundia lamented.

The Zonal Public Relations Officer, Emeka Ihenacho, could not be reached for his reaction to the sad incident. However, an unimpeachable source in the zone comprising Edo, Delta and Bayelsa States, confirmed the incident. The source disclosed that the deceased officer was being treated privately when he was confirmed to have been infected with the disease which unfortunately cut short his life.

According to the source, “as we speak, the entire police force in the zone has been thrown into mourning over the death of DCP Bissong”.  He hinted that the the Police Service Commission had ratified his elevation to the rank of Commissioner of Police which was delayed because of COVID-19 pandemic in the country. Bissong, an alumnus of St. Finbarr’s College, Akoka, Lagos, was said to have served in various capacities, including as an instructor at Police Academy, Wudil, Kano; Police Academy, Lagos, among others.

A native of Bendeghe Ekiem in Etung Local Government Area of Cross River State, Bissong, who left behind one wife and three children, was at the Institute for Security Studies, Bwari Abuja, between January and November 2018. He was elevated to the rank of Deputy Commissioner of Police December 2, 2018.