A retired Commissioner of Police, Frank Oditah, on Tuesday warned the public to desist from attributing every death that occurs to the current COVID-19 pandemic ravaging the world on daily basis.
Oditah gave this warning while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos as he mourned the death of the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Omololu Bishi.
NAN reports that Bishi, who was the former Commissioner of Police in Benue State and later in charge of Armament, died on Monday after a brief illness at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja.
He was buried at the Ebony Vault, Ikoyi, Lagos State on Tuesday.
The Commissioner said that no medical reports had yet linked the cause of Bishi’s death to either coronavirus or any other ailment.
“If people keep spreading false news about COVID-19 pandemic being the cause of every death, it will discourage the public from visiting hospitals for medical checkup and treatment,” he said.
Oditah said the general public should only be encouraged to build their immune system against the virus and adhere to the COVID-19 protocols to discourage its spread in the society.
He said Bishi’s death was yet another loss to the entire police force and the country as a whole.
“I am most saddened because he died just few weeks after being promoted to the rank of AIG by the Police Service Commission. May his soul rest in peace,” the former Commissioner said.
Oditah also expressed his condolences to the family of the deceased and prayed that God would give them the fortitude to bear the loss created by Bishi’s death.
Similarly, the AIG Zone 2, Ahmed Iliyasu, expressed shock on the sudden death of Bishi, who was recently promoted to the rank of AIG.
Iliyasu described the late AIG as an officer who was humble, responsible and dedicated to duty during his life time.
He said: “I sympathise with the family, the Oba of Lagos, his chiefs and the friends of late AIG following his demise.
“I pray that God will grant them the fortitude to bear the loss.”
NAN reports that the late officer, who hailed from Lagos Island in Lagos State, was enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force in 1988 as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police.
He was survived by his a wife and children.
NAN.
