Tragedy in Rivers as Police inspector dies by suicide

A wave of shock and sorrow swept through Eagle Island in Port Harcourt on Tuesday following the tragic death of a police inspector, Maxwell Zabu, who reportedly took his own life in the early hours of the morning.

Inspector Zabu, who was attached to Victor Ihunwo, a former Chairman of Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, is believed to have died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. The heartbreaking incident occurred at the politician’s residence, leaving both residents and security personnel deeply shaken.

Eyewitnesses described the scene as somber, with police officials quickly arriving at the residence to secure the area and begin investigations.

Authorities have yet to release an official statement regarding the possible motive behind the incident, but preliminary findings point to suicide.

The incident was first reported at the Eagle Island Police Post, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Azikiwe Police Division located in Illabouchi, Mile 2, Diobu.

Sources told our correspondent that detectives from the Azikiwe Division promptly visited the scene to begin preliminary investigations.

The spokesperson of the Rivers State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, said the case is being treated as a suspected suicide.

But she said the police have not ruled out any possibilities, adding that a full investigation is underway.

“It is suspected that the police officer killed himself, but an investigation is ongoing to ascertain what actually transpired,” the Rivers Police Command spokesperson told Channels Television.

The Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, Olugbenga Adepoju, has since ordered the immediate transfer of the case to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) in Port Harcourt for a more detailed investigation.

As the police dig deeper into the circumstances leading to Inspector Zabu’s death, colleagues, community members, and residents of the area eagerly await answers. The tragedy has sparked concern over the mental health and working conditions of security personnel in the state and beyond.