Assistant Commissioner of Police, Ogbon-Inu Taiwo Popoola, has died in Ebonyi State after he collapsed during an official meeting.
The incident happened around 11 a.m. on Tuesday at the Ebonyi State Police Command headquarters in Abakaliki, where Popoola attended a management meeting.
Until his death, Popoola served as the officer in charge of the State Intelligence Department.
Officer Collapses During Management Meeting
A police source said Popoola suddenly developed breathing difficulties while the meeting was ongoing.
According to the source, he began gasping for air, prompting colleagues to act immediately.
Officers rushed him to the Police Medical Centre at the command headquarters in Abakaliki for urgent medical attention.
“He was immediately rushed to the Police Medical Centre at the Police Headquarters in Abakaliki, where he was promptly attended to by medical personnel,” the source said.
Doctors Confirm Cause of Death
Despite efforts by medical personnel to save him, doctors later pronounced Popoola dead.
Preliminary medical findings showed that cardiac arrest linked to hypertensive heart disease caused his death.
Following the incident, authorities moved his remains to the morgue of Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital in Abakaliki.
Police Command Confirms Incident
The Ebonyi State Police Command confirmed the death on Thursday.
In a telephone interview, the state police spokesperson, DSP Joshua Ukandu, said Popoola collapsed suddenly during the meeting.
“Yes, one of them had a crisis during a meeting and was rushed to the hospital. Unfortunately, he didn’t survive,” Ukandu said.
Ukandu also stressed that Popoola had shown no signs of illness before the incident.
“He was not sick before the incident. If he were sick, he wouldn’t have attended the meeting,” he added.
Police Mourn Dedicated Officer
Ukandu described the late assistant commissioner as a committed and professional officer.
He said Popoola served the Nigeria Police Force with dedication throughout his career.
Colleagues at the command have continued to express shock over the sudden loss, describing the incident as a painful moment for the Force in Ebonyi State.
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