The Ebonyi State Police Command has been thrown into mourning following the sudden death of an Assistant Commissioner of Police, Ogbon-Inu Taiwo Popoola, who was in charge of the State Intelligence Department.
Popoola reportedly collapsed on Tuesday morning during a management meeting at the command headquarters in Abakaliki. Witnesses said the senior officer developed breathing difficulties and began gasping for air before he was rushed to the Police Medical Centre within the premises.
Despite prompt medical attention, he was later confirmed dead by doctors. Preliminary medical findings indicated that his death was caused by cardiac arrest linked to hypertensive heart disease. His remains have been deposited at the morgue of the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital.
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Joshua Ukandu, said the officer’s death came without warning.
“Yes, one of them had a crisis during a meeting and was rushed to the hospital. Unfortunately, he didn’t survive. He was not sick before the incident. If he were sick, he wouldn’t have attended the meeting,” Ukandu said.
He described the late Popoola as a committed professional who served the Nigeria Police Force with dedication and professionalism, noting that his passing has left officers and men of the command in shock.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Police Force has also been grappling with other sudden losses in recent months. In April, an Inspector of Police, Stephen Enang, reportedly collapsed and died shortly after watching a football match in Calabar.
Enang, an ardent supporter of Arsenal, was said to have been celebrating enthusiastically as the club defeated Real Madrid 3–0 at a viewing centre. A friend who witnessed the incident said the inspector was in high spirits throughout the match but failed to stand up after the final whistle.
He was rushed to a police hospital, where efforts to revive him were unsuccessful. His death, like Popoola’s, was described by colleagues and friends as shocking and deeply saddening.
