An Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Christopher Akpan, attached to the Lagos State Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), has reportedly slumped and died in his office at Ikeja.
The death of Akpan and that of two other junior officers have thrown the SARS and the command into mourning.
It was learnt that the newly promoted Akpan died in on Friday while his subordinates were waiting for him for instructions.
The deceased, fondly called ‘S O,’ had led his team out to arrest some suspected criminals but went to his office to rest before proceeding on another assignment when he slumped and died.
A SARS operative, who craved anonymity, said Akpan’s death was still a shock to him.
He said: “Mr Akpan just came back from an operation with his boys and went into his office to prepare for another operation. Hs boys were waiting for him to come out to instruct them on what to do. After waiting endlessly without seeing him, they went to knock on his office door, but there was no response.
“They felt he had gone out and they called his mobile phone, it rang but he did not pick the call. They decided to kick his door open and they saw him sitting on his chair but couldn’t talk nor move. That was how he was rushed to the hospital where he was confirmed dead on arrival by the doctor on duty.”
It was also learnt that a week ago, the unit lost two other operatives to the cold hands of death.
One of them is Inspector Nlong said to be the personal assistant to the officer in charge of SARS, Lagos State Command.
Nlong died in a motor accident on the Kogi-Okene Road. When he was returning to Lagos from Plateau State in a Toyota Hiace van driven by the driver of the officer in charge of Special Anti-Robbery Squad SARS), after attending naming ceremony the daughter of OC SARS, Lagos State Command, CSP Peter Gana, in Jos.
Nlong reportedly died on the spot while the driver was still receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.
Nlong was described as a quiet and calm person.
The second deceased is Inspector Tunde. The inspector died during a brief illness.
When asked to confirm Akpan’s death, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Bala Elkana, promised to get back to our correspondent.