The Akwa Ibom State Commissioner of Police, Waheed Ayilara, has passed away. His death occurred in the early hours of Thursday at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, according to reports by The Nation.
Ayilara had undergone surgery for prostate cancer on Wednesday, but sadly, he passed away just hours after the procedure, as disclosed by sources close to the family.
“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 reportedly said.
A senior police officer from Akwa Ibom State, speaking on the condition of anonymity, also confirmed the tragic news, noting that he was not authorized to officially comment on the matter.
Attempts to get an independent confirmation from the Lagos State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, were unsuccessful, as calls to his line were unanswered on Thursday morning.
Ayilara had previously served as the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department. In November 2023, he was appointed as the acting Commissioner of Police in Lagos, succeeding AIG Idowu Owohunwa.
In February 2024, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, assigned Ayilara to lead the Akwa Ibom State Police Command.
