POLICE DISPATCH RIDER KILLED AS PETROL TANKER RAMS INTO AKPABIO’S CONVOY IN IBADAN

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By Aishat Momoh. O.

A police dispatch rider attached to the convoy of Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has been killed after a petrol tanker rammed into the procession in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

Akpabio announced the death of the officer, Ibrahim Hussaini, during plenary at the Senate on Tuesday, as he condoled with the family of the deceased.

According to the Senate President, the incident occurred on Sunday shortly after members of his convoy picked him up from the Ibadan airport while he was in the state for the installation of a colleague.

“We went to Oyo State for the installation of our colleague. Unfortunately, my dispatch rider was run over by a tanker driver, and his head was shattered,” Akpabio told senators.

He disclosed that Hussaini was buried earlier on Tuesday in Kogi State, noting that the late officer left behind two wives and four children.

Dispatch riders, often police officers, typically ride government-branded motorcycles as part of the security details of public officeholders.

Akpabio appealed to heads of ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to grant automatic employment to the children of the deceased officer. He added that if no vacancies were available, he would personally ensure their employment.

“By the grace of God, I’m recommending two of his senior children for employment immediately in any parastatals that may wish to, otherwise I’ll employ them personally in any of my private concerns,” he said.

Following the announcement, Sunday Karimi, senator representing Kogi West, raised a motion for personal explanation to formally bring the incident before the Senate. While sympathising with the Senate President, Karimi revealed that the late dispatch rider, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), was due for retirement next year.

Karimi also noted that Hussaini, a native of Kogi State, had served in Akpabio’s convoy since 2023, when the Senate President assumed office.

In the same vein, Karimi informed the chamber of the death of Ibrahim Tuku, a long-serving driver attached to Isah Jibrin, senator representing Kogi East, who reportedly died at his residence on Saturday.

Speaking thereafter, Jibrin said Tukur had worked with him for 25 years, dating back to his time as a banker at the defunct AfriBank, and prayed for the repose of his soul.

The Senate subsequently observed a one-minute silence in honour of the late dispatch rider and the deceased driver.