Deputy Commissioner of Police Bissong dies of COVID-19 in Edo

A Deputy Commissioner of Police in Edo State has died of complication from the coronavirus.

DCP Francis Adie Bissong, the DC State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department in Benin, passed away on Tuesday, 21 April.

He was also DCP in charge of Zonal Criminal Investigations Department, Zone 5, Benin.

Bissong, who was an alumnus of St. Finbarr’s College, Akoka, Lagos, dedicated over 30 years to protecting lives and properties after joining the service on March 3 1990.

He served at various capacities, including the 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 was at the Institute for Security Studies, Bwari Abuja, between January and November 2018.

His elevation to the rank of Deputy Commissioner of Police was ratified by the Police Service Commission (PSC) on December 2, 2018.

Having married in March 1994, the late police chief is survived by his wife and three children.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), on Tuesday, announced three new casualties as the country reached an unprecedented triple-digit for confirmed cases for the first time.

One hundred and seventeen persons were infected, more than a 400 per cent surge.

DCP Bissong is the first documented security personnel to succumb to the virus in Nigeria and more could follow.

Although not endangered as much as the healthcare workers in the country, the law enforcement agents face the risk of contracting the virus in the course of enforcing lockdown.

While the medics receive all the attention in terms of protection kits and welfare, officers have none of such since the outbreak.

Ninety-five Chinese police officers have died in the fight against the coronavirus. In contrast, however, 46 medical workers lost their lives.

This figure may be peculiar to the Asians, though, the need for better welfare and protection for security personnel can’t be overemphasized.