A newly promoted officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), identified as Opatola Mohammed, has tragically passed away just days after receiving his new salary, sparking sorrow and concern within the force.
Opatola, attached to the Iwo division of the NSCDC in Osun State, reportedly slumped and died in the division’s restroom on Monday, 2024.
His sudden death has left colleagues and family members in shock, as the officer had recently been promoted and was reportedly in good health when he reported for duty.
A source within the command, who wished to remain anonymous, described the unsettling details of the incident.
According to the source, Opatola, along with other NSCDC officers, received an alert notifying them of their salary deposits.
“We all saw the alert of our salaries almost the same time as the deceased, and we were all disappointed,” the source said.
The salary amount reportedly sparked a discussion among the officers, with some expressing frustration and worry over the financial situation.
Opatola, who had recently been decorated following his promotion, was visibly upset, according to the source.
“He was hale and hearty when he resumed for duty,” the source continued.
“He attended to a few cases, but he seemed troubled by the salary issue.”
After a while, Opatola excused himself to use the restroom.
When several minutes passed with no sign of him, colleagues became concerned and went to check on him.
They found him lying on the floor in the restroom.
He was quickly rushed to the hospital, but doctors there confirmed he was already dead.
The loss of Opatola has cast a somber mood over the Iwo division and left colleagues searching for answers.
One of his colleagues expressed disbelief over the situation, saying, “It is so disheartening that Opatola, who was just promoted, slumped and died only a few days later.”
The colleague speculated that the disappointment over the salary might have aggravated an underlying health condition that led to Opatola’s death.
Efforts to reach the spokesperson for the Osun Command of the NSCDC, Kehinde Adeleke, were unsuccessful.
