Police dispatch riders are often police officers who typically ride government-branded motorcycles as part of convoys attached to public officials.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, on Tuesday, said that a petrol tanker on Sunday rammed into his convoy in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, killing a police dispatch rider identified as Ibrahim Hussaini.
Akpabio made the incident known during plenary at the Senate, where he condoled with the family of the deceased officer.
Police dispatch riders are often police officers who typically ride government-branded motorcycles as part of convoys attached to public officials.
Akpabio, who informed lawmakers that Hussaini was buried earlier on Tuesday, however, did not initially disclose the burial location, but later said the late officer was buried in Kogi State.
According to Akpabio, the incident occurred after members of his convoy picked him up from the Ibadan airport, following a trip to Oyo State for an official engagement.
The Senate President said he went to Oyo State for the “installation of our colleague,” adding, “Unfortunately, my dispatch rider was run over by a tanker driver, and his head was shattered. We just buried him 15 minutes ago in Kogi state. He left two wives and four children behind.”
The Senate President appealed to heads of ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to grant automatic employment to the children of the deceased officer, adding that he would personally ensure their employment if no vacancies were available.
“By the grace of God, I’m recommending two of his senior children for employment immediately in any parastatals that may wish to, otherwise I’ll employ them personally in any of my private concerns,” he added.
Following the announcement, Senator Sunday Karimi (Kogi West) raised a motion for personal explanation to formally bring the tragic incident before the Senate.
While offering condolences to the Senate President, Karimi noted that the deceased, DSP Ibrahim Hussaini, was a dedicated officer from Kogi State scheduled for retirement in 2026.
Hussaini had served in the Senate President’s convoy since Akpabio assumed office in 2023.
In the same session, Karimi informed the chamber of a second loss, Ibrahim Tukur, a driver for Senator Isah Jibrin (Kogi East), who passed away at home on Saturday.
Senator Jibrin paid a touching tribute to Tukur, noting their 25-year professional history dating back to his career at the defunct AfriBank. The Senate subsequently observed a minute of silence in honor of both men.