Police arrest foreigner for infecting Nigerians with HIV virus

The Lagos State Police Command is investigating the allegation by a young Nigerian woman that her Dublin, Northern Island-national boyfriend, resident in Lagos, deliberately infected her and other friends with HIV virus.

The Benue State indigene (name withheld), who spoke with newsmen at the Ikeja Police Divisional headquarters, said: “I am a real estate professional. I met James Turner eight years ago. He told me to move to his apartment and I started living with him.

“We were living like husband and wife. I later observed that he was falling sick. I even followed him to the hospital. He was complaining of internal heat and he was sweating profusely. The hospital subjected him to some medical tests. I did not know the result initially.

“I later discovered that he was taking a particular kind of drug and he was not getting better. I searched Google to know about the drug and discovered that the drug is for HIV patient. I was shocked with the discovery.

“I confronted him, but he denied that he had HIV. He told me that the drug was for the sore in his leg. I was not comfortable with the answer. I told him that if I must believe him, he should avail me with the doctor’s phone number, but he refused.”

She continued: “While he was sleeping, I searched the phone and I saw the doctor’s number. I called him and he said I should come to the hospital.
“When I came down to the hospital, the doctor told me that my boyfriend is a HIV patient. My world crumbled, I fell down and started crying. I regretted ever meeting the man.

“The doctor advised that I should do test first to know my health status before complaining, as I might not be infected. I did the test and it was positive. The doctor took my blood sample to another hospital for confirmation test and the result was positive. I was totally down, even though I have no symptom of sickness.

“Well, to kill anger and boredom, I followed some of my friends to a party. He kept calling me, whether I was coming home. I became suspicious and lied to him that I won’t come back that night.

“I was shocked that when I arrived home, I caught him pant down, sleeping with my very good friend. I got angry and told him he was wicked.“It was at that time that I knew he deliberately infected me with HIV, as he started shouting down at me. He told me that I should go to hell, that he has infected many girls and that he was just beginning.

“He told me that I was a fool, that he sent his wife home immediately he tested positive. He told me to hang myself and said he is over 60 and that he has lived almost his life span, but that I was still 31 and no one would marry a HIV patient. “He told me to go and report to anywhere I wished, as I would be subjected to ridicule and stigmatisation.

“After listening to his humiliation, I attempted suicide, but was rescued by my friend. I went back to the doctor, who invited him and advised him to set up a business for me, so that I would be able to raise money for anti-retroviral drugs. He promised to give me N2.5 million to set up business. “Each time I reminded him of the money, he would start shouting me down. He would start boasting that I was not the only person that he has infected. He would tell me that he has just started, that he would finish Nigerian girls before he leaves the country.

“I decided that before he would finish Nigerian young girls, I should expose him. That is the reason I reported him to the Police.“I want the Police to stop him, as he has gone berserk, infecting people and boasting about it.”

Turner, who was rude to reporters, said: “I am not going to talk about the issue right now. The girl and others love money. They want to extort me. “I am HIV positive, I know, but she infected me. Ask her what happened in 2013. She travelled to Kaduna, it was at that time that she got it and infected me.

“Let her get away. I told her that we should settle the matter, but she decided to embarrass me. I won’t take it.“I don’t understand why she is bringing all these thing up. I did not rape her. We were friends and we will remain friends. I repeat, she was the person who infected me with HIV”

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Dolapo Badmos, said: “On Thursday, the Ikeja Police Division got a report from a young lady that she and her friend were deliberately infected with HIV by a man and he has been boasting to infect more females.

“The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) mobilised and arrested the suspect for questioning. “We are investigating to know if he deliberately infected the ladies with HIV and if it is true, to stop him from infecting more people. “If it is true, we will charge him to court for deliberately infecting someone with HIV.”She said the Police were still investigating the matter.