Coronavirus: Police Speak On Death Of DPO Who Died ‘After Arresting Masquerade’

The Ogun State Police Command has confirmed the death of Mr. Segun Dada, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) attached to the Ibara Divison.

The command, however, denied the information spreading on many social media platforms that he died as a result of complications sustained after arresting a masquerade that violated the coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown orders in Ogun State.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, on Sunday, confirmed that a masquerade was arrested for violating the social distancing order by the government but added that the late DPO had nothing to do with the arrest.

He disclosed that the late DPO had been lying critically ill on a hospital bed, well over a month, before the masquerade was arrested by men of Ibara Police Division.

The statement reads: “The attention of Ogun state police command has been drawn to a 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 governments.

“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 now, 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 of March 2020, for violating the 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 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.

After debunking rumours that the late DPO died because he arrested a masquerade, the Ogun State Police PRO also stated the readiness of the command to continue to maintain law and order in line with constitutional provisions.

“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 police 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 been above the law.”