Before we begin this tragic story involving officers of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), permit us to walk down memory lane, back to the days when citizens were always longing for an opportunity to join the force.
Fast forward to today, people no longer express that kind of hunger to join the force, in fact, youths of nowadays speak so low of the Police Force.
One cannot blame these persons for their views, after all, they are glory truths staring Nigerians in the face.
Many times, there have been calls for reform in the Force, especially with regard to the welfare of the officers who risk their life’s to safeguard the lives and property of the citizens.
Akinlotan’s Death
Now, some Police Officers in Lagos State have expressed displeasure over the unconcerned attitude to their health by the Force authorities.
This comes after a police constable attached to the Lagos State Police Command, Wale Akinlotan, slumped and died while on duty at the Ilupeju police division.
Akinlotan, a graduate of Mass Communication from the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, slumped on Monday while at his station in Ilupeju, where he served as the orderly to the DPO.
The Bite
The deceased’s death occurred a few weeks after he sustained injuries from a bite by a suspect, and the circumstances surrounding his death are yet unknown.
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Akintola had reportedly assisted in apprehending the suspect who tried to escape from police custody.
A source said, “In the course of capturing the suspect, he bit Wale on his shoulder, his fingers and others.”
Wale also posted videos of the injuries sustained during the incident via Tiktok on October 19, saying, “Job hazard. Thank God for life, Human bite is worse than scorpion/snake venom.”
The Burial
The policeman has since been buried at a cemetery in Lagos State.
Wale Akinlotan enrolled into the Nigeria Police Force in 2018 and has once served at the Lagos Police Public Relations Office as one of its media men.
Speaking on the tragic incident, some police officers alleged that Akinlotan’s death was one of scores of similar deaths that occurred among police personnel of various ranks across the nation.
They blamed the incessant death on lack of rest among officers of the force.
No Time To Rest
Some of the officers in Lagos said, “They won’t give us time to rest. Nobody cares about our health at work. Even when you’re sick, they will tell you to bring a medical report before asking you to go and treat yourself.
You work many shifts a day. They won’t approve annual leave for us. Tell me how officers won’t continue to drop dead.
It’s sad we keep losing officers to avoidable circumstances.”
