Police officer crushed to death as tanker rams into Akpabio’s convoy

A police dispatch rider attached to the convoy of Senate President Godswill Akpabio has lost his life following a tragic road accident in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The officer, identified as Ibrahim Hussaini, reportedly died after a petrol tanker rammed into the convoy while it was in transit. The incident sent shockwaves through the security and political circles.

Senate President Akpabio disclosed the development on Tuesday during plenary at the National Assembly, where he announced the loss and expressed heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased officer

According to the Senate President, the accident occurred on Sunday shortly after members of his convoy picked him up from the Ibadan Airport while returning from Oyo State, where they had attended the installation ceremony of a colleague.

“We went to Oyo State for the installation of our colleague,” Akpabio told senators.

“Unfortunately, my dispatch rider was run over by a tanker driver, and his head was shattered. We buried him this morning in Kogi State.”

The deceased, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), was said to have been buried on Tuesday morning. Akpabio disclosed that Hussaini is survived by two wives and four children.

Dispatch riders, who are usually police officers, are often part of the security details of top public officeholders and operate government-branded motorcycles to clear traffic for official convoys.

Moved by the incident, Akpabio appealed to heads of ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to grant automatic employment to the children of the late officer.

“By the grace of God, I’m recommending two of his senior children for employment immediately in any parastatals that may wish to,” he said.

“Otherwise, I will personally ensure their employment in any of my private concerns.”

Shortly after the announcement, Sunday Karimi, senator representing Kogi West, raised a motion for personal explanation to formally present the incident to the Senate.

Karimi noted that the late officer, a native of Kogi State, had served in Akpabio’s convoy since 2023, when he assumed office as Senate President, and was due for retirement next year.

In a related development, Karimi also informed the chamber of the death of Ibrahim Tukur, a longtime driver attached to Isah Jibrin, senator representing Kogi East, who reportedly died at his residence on Saturday.

Jibrin later confirmed the development, noting that Tukur had worked with him for 25 years, dating back to his days as a banker at the now-defunct Afribank.

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