The Deputy Commissioner of Police attached to the Zone 5 Police Command headquarters in Benin, Edo State, Mr Francis Adie Bissong, has been killed by coronavirus.

The state Commissioner for Health, Patrick Okundia, who confirmed the death of Bissong, said he died on Tuesday before he could get to the isolation centre.

“We had an unfortunate situation of a 57-year-old police officer who passed on yesterday. The story is not very clear how he got the infection but he developed some illnesses.

“Initially, there was no evidence or suspicion for coronavirus disease but when the symptoms started getting worse, he was treated at the police clinic,” he said.

Okundia explained that about two days before his death, the state surveillance team was called to have a look at him, adding that his sample was taken and 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.

“By the time we could get to his house to move him to the isolation centre, we discovered that the man had died that same day. It is really unfortunate,” Okundia said.

Our correspondent also gathered that Bissong, a lawyer from Cross River State:

“Suddenly fell ill on April 14 and was being managed by qualified medical doctors until he died of the virus yesterday. (Tuesday).”

Edo State Commissioner of Police, Mr Lawan Jimeta, confirmed Bissong’s death.

He said:

“He died yesterday (Tuesday) and that is very unfortunate.”

Efforts to get confirmation from the Police Public Relations Officer of Zone 5, Police Headquarters, Benin, Emeka Ihenacho, were not successful as calls placed on his telephone were left unanswered.