An assistant commissioner of police, Ogbon-Inu Taiwo Popoola, has died after collapsing during a management meeting at the Ebonyi State Police Command headquarters in Abakaliki, police sources said on Thursday.
According to The Punch, a senior police source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment publicly, said Popoola fell ill around 11 am on Tuesday while attending the meeting.
Popoola, who was in charge of the State Intelligence Department, reportedly developed breathing difficulties and began gasping for air during the session.
He was rushed to the Police Medical Centre at the command headquarters, where medical personnel attempted to resuscitate him, the source said. He was later confirmed dead.
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Preliminary medical findings indicated that the cause of death was cardiac arrest linked to hypertensive heart disease, according to the source.
His remains have been deposited at the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital mortuary in Abakaliki.
The Punch also said the state police spokesperson, DSP Joshua Ukandu, confirmed the incident in a telephone interview.
“Yes, one of our officers collapsed during a meeting and was rushed to the hospital. Unfortunately, he did not survive,” Ukandu said.
He added that Popoola had not shown signs of illness prior to the incident.
“He was not sick before the meeting. If he was, he would not have attended,” Ukandu said, describing the late officer as committed and professional in his service to the Nigeria Police Force.
