NSCDC officer collapses dies on duty
Mohammed Opatola, an officer with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Osun State, assigned to the Iwo Division, tragically passed away on Monday after suddenly falling ill while on duty.
The exact details of his death remain unclear, with varying reports from his colleagues and rumors spreading online. A widely circulated WhatsApp message claimed that Opatola collapsed right after receiving his October salary alert, which, according to some, lacked the promotion arrears that NSCDC staff had been eagerly anticipating.
However, several of Opatola’s colleagues disputed this claim.
They clarified that he did not collapse right after checking his salary but instead continued with his work duties before suddenly falling ill.
One anonymous colleague told The PUNCH, “We were all disappointed to find that the promotion arrears were missing from the salary. Opatola, like the rest of us, was frustrated, but he didn’t collapse on the spot. He went back to his office and carried on with his tasks before becoming unwell.
“He went to the restroom but didn’t return after a while. When we went to check on him, he was unresponsive on the floor. He was quickly rushed to the hospital, where he was confirmed dead.”
Another source speculated that Opatola’s illness might have been triggered by high blood pressure, possibly exacerbated by the disappointment over the missing arrears.
He noted that personnel from other agencies under the Ministry of Interior had received their arrears along with the October salary, which had raised expectations among NSCDC staff.
“He was visibly upset when he saw the salary alert. We all felt the same frustration, but it seemed to affect him more deeply,” the colleague said.
A third colleague revealed that Opatola had been promoted and decorated with a new rank just days before his death. This made the absence of his promotion arrears even more disheartening for him.
“He seemed fine when he arrived at work on Monday. After checking the salary alert, he looked troubled, excused himself to the restroom, and was later found unconscious,” the colleague explained.
The Osun NSCDC Command has however not release any official statement to explain what really happened
