An inspector with the Nigerian Police, Stephen Enang, died on Tuesday night in Calabar while watching the Champions League match between Arsenal and Real Madrid at a football viewing centre.
Enang, said to be a diehard Arsenal fan, was attached to the Akim Police Division along IBB Way in Calabar until his death.
He was reported to be a regular visitor at the football viewing centre located on Abang-Asang Street, Calabar Municipality Local Government Area of Cross River, where the tragedy occurred.
He had shown no signs of illness before the game and had enthusiastically joined in the excitement when Arsenal scored their first, second, and third goals.
According to a friend, who pleaded anonymity, the late inspector was found unconscious after the final whistle.
“Before the match, he was hale and hearty—there was no issue whatsoever that we knew of. He was a very quiet and soft-spoken man who loved football and was a diehard Arsenal fan.
“He was an inspector of police at Akim Police Division. We were all watching the game together. His team scored the first goal, and he was so excited—the same with the second and third goals.
“He jumped up in jubilation for each of these goals. We didn’t realise that as he sat back in his chair, waiting for the final whistle, Stephen was gone.
“We only discovered that he was not moving after the game when everyone was leaving the viewing centre, and he didn’t stand up like the others.
“That was when we realised he was no longer conscious. He was rushed to the police hospital at Akim, where health professionals did everything they could to revive him, but all efforts proved abortive, as he was confirmed dead.”
