Petrol Tanker Rams Into Akpabio’s Convoy, Kills Dispatch Rider in Ibadan

A petrol tanker on Sunday rammed into the convoy of the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, killing a dispatch rider, Ibrahim Hussaini, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

Mr Akpabio disclosed the incident during plenary on Tuesday while condoling with the family of the deceased. He said the accident occurred after members of his convoy picked him up from the Ibadan Airport following a trip to the state for the installation of a colleague.

According to the senate president, the dispatch rider was run over by the tanker, resulting in fatal head injuries. He said the late officer was buried shortly after the incident in Kogi State. Mr Akpabio added that the deceased left behind two wives and four children.

Dispatch riders are police officers attached to the security convoys of senior public office holders. Mr Akpabio has about four dispatch riders assigned to his convoy.

The senate president appealed to heads of ministries, departments and agencies of the federal government to grant automatic employment to the children of the deceased officer. He said that if there were no available vacancies, he would personally ensure their employment.

He further announced that he had recommended two of the senior children for immediate employment in any willing federal parastatal, adding that he would employ them in his private businesses if necessary.

Following the disclosure, the senator representing Kogi West, Sunday Karimi, raised a motion for personal explanation to formally present the incident to the Senate. While sympathising with Mr Akpabio, he said the late Ibrahim Hussaini, a deputy superintendent of police, was due for retirement next year.

Mr Karimi said the deceased, a native of Kogi State, had served in the senate president’s convoy since 2023, when Mr Akpabio assumed office. He also informed the Senate of the death of another officer, Ibrahim Tukur, a driver attached to the Kogi East Senator, Isah Jibrin.

According to him, Mr Tukur, who served Senator Jibrin for 25 years, died at his residence on Saturday. He expressed condolences to the families of both deceased officers and to the Kogi State Government over the losses.

The Senate thereafter observed a one-minute silence in honour of the late dispatch rider and the deceased driver.