The Lagos State Police Command has announced the death of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Festac Division, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Matilda Ngbaronye, who passed away on Friday after undergoing surgery at a medical centre in the Surulere area of the state.
In a statement on Saturday, the spokesperson for the Command, Abimbola Adebisi, described the late officer as an upright and dedicated professional who served the Nigeria Police Force with integrity and commitment for over 15 years.
“The Command mourns the loss of a truly upright and dedicated officer who served with unwavering professionalism and integrity,” Adebisi said. “Until her passing, she was known for her diligence, discipline, and commitment to duty. Her friendly disposition and humane approach to policing greatly helped to bridge the gap between the Police and the public she dutifully served.”
Adebisi added that the news of Ngbaronye’s death came as a rude shock to the Command. She said the Commissioner of Police, Jimoh Olohundare, along with all officers and men of the Command, have extended their condolences to the deceased’s family and aged mother.
According to her, the Commissioner has personally reached out to the late DPO’s husband and elder brother, who is a priest, to convey the Command’s sympathy and support. Burial arrangements, she noted, will be announced later.
Ngbaronye joined the Nigeria Police Force on April 19, 2010, and rose steadily through the ranks to become one of the most distinguished female officers in the Lagos State Command.
She served in various capacities, including as Crime Officer at Dolphin Estate Division, Ikoyi, and as General Investigation and Fingerprint Expert at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti.
Ngbaronye also headed the Public Complaints Bureau and later served as Public Information Officer with the African Union Mission in Somalia, where she earned commendations for her performance.
In December 2020, she was appointed Deputy Police Public Relations Officer for the Lagos Command by the then Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu. She was promoted to the rank of Superintendent in February 2021 and elevated to Chief Superintendent in December 2024 among 1,348 officers promoted by the Police Service Commission.
Before her posting to Festac Division, she served as the Divisional Police Officer at Iponri.
Her death has sparked an outpouring of grief from colleagues and members of the public.
A Facebook user, Abu Yahaya, wrote: “A great loss. CSP Matilda, DPO Festac Division, is dead. She died on October 24, 2025, at an undisclosed hospital in Surulere, Lagos. May God Almighty console her family and the Nigeria Police Force, Lagos State Command. RIP, hero.”
Another mourner, broadcaster Moshood Ogunleye, said: “Residents, members of the Police Community Relations Committee, and officers in Festac Town were in mourning as the news spread.”
