Four officers from the Delta State Police Command’s Anti-Kidnap Squad have been arrested and jailed for allegedly shooting dead a colleague, one inspector Chidi, along ADP, Ibusa Road, near Asaba, in the state’s Oshimili North Local Council.
According to reports, the killing took place on Monday about 6:30 p.m. amid a dispute between police officers and a commercial vehicle over the collecting of a bribe of N20,000. While travelling from Ibusa to Asaba in search of petrol, the motorist, Nicholas, stated he was stopped at a checkpoint by police officers who wanted N50, 000.
He said: “As I was returning at about 5:30 p.m., I met a team of policemen along the Ibusa Road, Asaba and they stopped me for a search. After checking my car and particulars as demanded, nothing incriminating was found in me and all my car documents were up to date. But still, they demanded N50,000 from me or I would be arrested and detained.
“All my pleas fell on deaf ears as they insisted that I must give them N50,000. I told them I don’t have money with me here, and they asked how much do I have? For fear of being arrested, I told them, I had N20,000 at home. “ Immediately I said that, two of them were asked to follow me home to collect the N20,000. On our way to Ibusa, my car ran out of fuel and it stopped. Then, an argument ensued between us. And they started shouting at me.
“At this point, one of the policemen shot my rear tyre and that attracted a crowd of people. Even some soldiers passing by stopped, and the crowd increased. Some of them asked the policemen to allow me to go, since I did not commit any offence, but they refused. After shooting my tyre, I said I would not go anywhere again. As the argument continued, the policeman, who shot my tyre was about to raise his gun again when it fired and the bullet hit his colleague directly in the head. He died on the spot. ”
“Following the killing everywhere scattered. Then, we all started running and falling on each other, to escape from being killed by the policeman who held on to his gun.”
Contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Bright Edafe, confirmed the incident.