Dismissed policeman commits suicide after infecting nine-year-old girl, five others with HIV

A 40-YEAR-OLD dismissed policeman yesterday committed suicide after allegedly defiling a nine-year-old girl and five others. The policeman, who hailed from Cross River State and was Human Immune Virus (HIV) positive also infected his victims with the dreaded disease.

The incident took place in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, where the dismissed police office resided. Investigation by some members of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) revealed that the policeman was dismissed for alleged gross misconduct and detained in Port Harcourt prisons but later broke jail and escaped to Bayelsa.

The incident yesterday caused anger among the indigenes of the community who led a manhunt for the man but he escaped towards Trofani community in Sagbama Local Government Area, where he reportedly committed suicide.

A source, who pleaded anonymity, revealed that the six victims infected by the late policeman also included his female lover. The Guardian learnt that his female lover is presently on the run after her test proved she is also HIV positive.

The source revealed: “Investigation showed that the man escaped from Port Harcourt prisons sometimes last year and embarked on a defilement spree. Five under-aged kids were reportedly defiled and infected with HIV. The nine-year-old girl, names withheld, was defiled recently.

“The victim told her mother about the act but the mother refused to hear her, but when the girl could not walk properly and was sickly, the mother took her for laboratory test and discovered she had been defiled and is HIV positive.” When contacted on the development, the spokesman of the Bayelsa Police Command, Asinim Butswat, said though he heard of the incident, “but it has not been officially reported to the command.”