Calabar - Mr Efiok Cobham, the Acting Governor of Cross River, on Sunday described the death of the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) zone 6 Calabar, Alhaji Ibrahim Mukhtari, as shocking.
Cobham, who reacted to the passage Mukhtari on December 22, at the University Of Calabar Teaching Hospital, said his services to the state would be greatly missed.
A statement from Cobham’s Press Secretary, Mr Effiong Okon, on Sunday, said: ``everybody is shocked.
"Just over a week ago, he took delivery of 25 pick-up vans on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police for security of the state.
"So, everybody is taken aback by what has happened now. We pray God to console the family and the police.
"He was a good police officer. His rise to the rank of AIG couldn’t have been, except by dint of hard work and dedication to duty," he said.
Cobham said that during Mukhtari’s tenure the state enjoyed real peace while incidents of crime were not high, adding: "Criminals were kept under check. We will really miss his services."
The Police Public Relations Officer for zone 6 Command, Mr Okor Okwuchukwu, had confirmed that his boss died on Dec. 22, hours after he was taken to the hospital.
"It is very unfortunate that the AIG gave up the ghost yesterday. He just felt ill briefly and was rushed to UCTH and he did not return.
"He was such a nice man and a very hard working. May his soul rest in peace," Okwuchukwu said.
At the headquarters of zone 6, everything looked normal as the policemen who usually mounted security at the gate were doing their business as usual.
Movements in and out of the premises were, however, restricted to only those who had genuine businesses to conduct there.
Mukhtari who assumed duty as AIG zone 6 on Aug. 27, from zone 10 Sokoto, had his last major function on December 7, when he represented the Inspector General to receive 25 vehicles donated by the state Government.
Born on April 5, 1957, the late AIG was survived by wife and children.
- NAN