The Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State, Waheed Ayilara, has passed away.
Ayilara reportedly died in the early hours of Thursday at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja.
Sources close to the family informed Channels Television that he had undergone prostate cancer surgery on Wednesday, but passed away just hours afterward.
“We are very sad to inform you that our friend, brother, and family, the Commissioner of Police for Akwa Ibom State, Waheed Ayilara, is dead,” the family source said.
A senior police officer in Akwa Ibom State, speaking anonymously due to lack of authorization, also confirmed the death of Commissioner of Police Waheed Ayilara.
When asked for confirmation, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command, ASP Timfon John, told Channels Television in Uyo that the command would not make any comments until an official statement is received from the family.
In November 2023, Ayilara, then a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), was appointed as the acting Commissioner of Police in Lagos, taking over from AIG Idowu Owohunwa.
Prior to this, Ayilara served as the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department.
In February 2024, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, deployed Ayilara to head the Akwa Ibom State Command.