The Lagos State Police Command is mourning the death of Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Matilda Ngbaronye, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of the Festac Division, who passed away on Friday after undergoing surgery at a medical facility in Surulere, Lagos.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the command’s spokesperson, SP Abimbola Adebisi, described Ngbaronye’s death as a great loss, noting that she served the Force with “unwavering professionalism and integrity” throughout her 15-year career.
“The Command mourns the loss of a truly upright and dedicated officer who served with diligence, discipline, and commitment to duty,” Adebisi stated. “Her friendly disposition and humane approach to policing helped to bridge the gap between the Police and the public she dutifully served.”
Adebisi added that the Commissioner of Police, CP Jimoh Olohundare, along with all officers and men of the Command, had expressed deep condolences to the deceased’s family and aged mother. She disclosed that the Commissioner had personally reached out to Ngbaronye’s husband and elder brother, a priest, to convey the Command’s sympathies and support.
Born into a family known for public service, Ngbaronye joined the Nigeria Police Force on April 19, 2010, and rose steadily through the ranks to become one of the prominent female officers in the Lagos Command.
She served in various capacities, including as Crime Officer at Dolphin Estate Division, Ikoyi; General Investigation and Fingerprint Expert at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti; and Head of the Public Complainants Bureau.
Ngbaronye also represented Nigeria at the African Union Mission in Somalia, where she served as Public Information Officer and earned commendations for her exemplary service.
In December 2020, she was appointed Deputy Police Public Relations Officer for the Lagos State Command under then Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu.
She was promoted to Superintendent of Police in February 2021 and, in December 2024, elevated to Chief Superintendent of Police by the Police Service Commission.
Before her posting to the Festac Division, she served as DPO of Iponri Division, where she was known for her community engagement efforts.
Her sudden death has continued to draw an outpouring of grief from colleagues, friends, and residents.
A Facebook user, Abu Yahaya, wrote: “A great loss. CSP Matilda, DPO Festac Division, is dead. She died on October 24, 2025, at an undisclosed hospital in Surulere. May God console her family and the Nigeria Police Force.”
Broadcaster Moshood Ogunleye also mourned her passing, saying, “Residents, members of the Police Community Relations Committee, and officers in Festac Town were in mourning as the news spread.”
According to the police spokesperson, details of her burial arrangements will be announced in due course.