"Ibara DPO's Death Not Connected With Masquerade's Arrest" - Police

Police authorities in Ogun State, on Sunday debunked claims in some quarters that the death of the Divisional Police Officer of Ibara Division, SP Segun Dada was connected to a masquerade he allegedly arrested last week.

In a statement signed by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, it was clearly stated that the late officer had been battling an ailment for some time before he passed on. Oyeyemi also disclosed that the deceased was not physically present when the masquerade was arrested.

Below is the text of the statement:

The attention of Ogun State Police Command has been drawn to mischievous information circulating on social media attributing the untimely death of one of the finest, humble and dedicated officers of the Command to the recent arrest of a recalcitrant masquerade who violated the social distancing directives of the Federal and state government.

The command wouldn't have joined issue with those circulating the fake news but the wrong and mischievous impression needs to be clarified.

The late DPO has been on sick bed for the past one month, battling with an ailment which later resulted to his untimely death.  Contrary to what the mischief maker wanted the public to believe, the late DPO was not on duty when the said masquerade was arrested because he was in the hospital.

The masquerade was arrested on Sunday 29th March 2020 for violating government directives while the DPO was on sick bed at Federal Medical Center idi Aba Abeokuta, until he breathed his last, he was not even aware of the said masquerade’s arrest.

It will be ignorant of anyone to attribute his death to the arrest of the recalcitrant masquerade just to attract traffic to his or her blog.

Anybody who may have had reason to meet the late DPO when he was alive will attest to his humble and polite nature. He was an embodiment of what a gentleman officer should be and the Nigeria Police Force; Ogun State Command in particular will forever miss him.

 To those circulating the unfunded rumour, your mischievous information will not deter us from carrying out our constitutional duty no matter who is involved.

If Pastors and Imams can be arrested for violating the government directives, no masquerade should think of being above the law.

 May the good Lord bless the soul of our departed officer and console his family and friends.