Plain-clothed operatives attached to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Lagos State police command are mourning the death of their colleague.

The operatives are also seeking divine help to stop the cold hand of death from taking away officers in their unit.

It was gathered that on Friday, a newly promoted senior operative of the unit, identified as Christopher Akpan, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, was said to have allegedly slumped and died in his office at the command. ASP Akpan, who was fondly called ‘S/O’, had led junior officials to arrest some suspected criminals but met his untimely death, as he was getting ready for another operation.

A source in SARS, who pleaded anonymity, said: “Oga Akpan’s death is still a shock to me. He came back from an operation with his boys and went into his office to prepare for another operation. His boys after waiting for him to no avail went to knock on his 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 up. They decided to kick his door open and they saw him sitting on his chair but couldn’t talk or move. They rushed him to the hospital but he was confirmed dead on arrival. The body was deposited at the mortuary for autopsy report.”

The cause of death is still sketchy and unknown as the autopsy report has not been made public though his colleagues said there was no report that he was sick the previous day as he even led an operation shortly before his death.

The late Akpan was former Station Officer of FSARS before he was recently elevated to a higher position. He hailed from Akwa Ibom State and was married with children who reside at Okota Barracks in Lagos.

Since the incident happened, some of his colleagues had expressed shock over the incident describing the late Akpan as a disciplined officer, who worked diligently and professionally with his other colleagues.

It was gathered that ASP Akpan’s demise is coming barely one week after the unit lost two other operatives to an untimely death. The other deceased operatives, one Inspector Nlong, said to be a personal assistant to the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of SARS Lagos State Command, was said to have died in a motor accident along Okene highway.

Sources said Inspector Nlong was heading back to Lagos in a Toyota Hiace van driven by the driver of the OC FSARS after attending the Officer-in-Charge of FSARS daughter’s naming ceremony in Jos, Plateau State. Nlong was not lucky as he reportedly died on the spot while the driver, who is yet to be identified, is receiving treatment. Operatives describe Inspector Nlong as a very quiet and calm man.

Another deceased operative, identified simply as Inspector Tunde, was said to have allegedly died after a brief illness and he is yet to be buried. (The Guardian)

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