Tragedy struck the Ebonyi State Police Command on Thursday as an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Ogbon-Inu Taiwo Popoola, slumped and died during a management meeting at the command headquarters in Abakaliki.
Sources said the incident occurred at about 10:30 a.m. at the office of the Commissioner of Police, where senior officers were holding a management meeting.
Popoola was said to have suddenly taken ill and was immediately rushed to the police clinic at the headquarters.
However, efforts by medical personnel to revive him proved unsuccessful.
His remains were later moved to the morgue of the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital (AE-FUTHA 1), Abakaliki.
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Joshua Ukandu, described the death as a huge loss to the command.
According to Ukandu, “ACP Popoola, who was the Assistant Commissioner of Police, was in charge of the State Intelligence Department (SID), suddenly developed breathing difficulty and began gasping for breath during the meeting.
“He was immediately rushed to the Police Clinic at the Police Headquarters, Abakaliki, where he was promptly attended to by the command’s medical personnel.
“Despite efforts to resuscitate him, the officer was confirmed dead by medical doctors.
“The remains of the deceased have been deposited at the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital (AE-FUTHA 1) mortuary in Abakaliki.
“The police described the late ACP Popoola as a dedicated officer who served the Force with commitment and professionalism,” Ukandu stated.