Vanguard reports:
Two policemen, including an Inspector, have
been detained for allegedly shooting an Army officer during an argument.
The Inspector was detained at the Central
Police Station, Onitsha, while his junior colleague was detained at the
military cantonment, Onitsha.
A source said the Army officer, a Lieutenant,
was about to board a bus to Borno State at Upper Iweka Motor Park.
The source said trouble started when a police
patrol team stormed the park and reportedly demanded to be financially
empowered by the management of the park.
Afterwards, they asked the officer to identify
himself and produce his ‘pass authority.’
An argument was said to have ensued and the
policemen shot the officer. When a mob wanted to lynch them, the policemen
began to shoot indiscriminately, and stray bullets hit three people.
The source hinted that they were settled with
some bottles of beer, which after consuming became intoxicated and as they were
about to depart, they saw the soldier dressed in military camouflage uniform
and demanded to know who he was to put on the military uniform.
In response, the soldier brought out his
identity card, which proved that he is a Lieutenant in the military attached to
Borno State, adding that he just visited Onitsha cantonment to see his
colleagues.
The presentation of the ID card did not assure
the policemen, who allegedly demanded for his ‘pass authority’ to have
travelled from Borno State to Anambra State and in the process, a heated
argument ensued prompting one of the Policemen to warn him that they will shot him,
but the soldier responded “Shoot me if you can” and the Policeman shot him on
the leg.
On hearing of the gunshots, sympathizers
mobilized themselves into a mob to lynch the Policemen but the Inspector, who
was led the police team started shooting indiscriminately, ostensibly to scare
the surging crowd and in the process stray bullets, hit three other persons.
Efforts to get the reaction of the Onitsha 302
military commander, Col. Mohammed Bello proved abortive but reliable sources
hinted that one of the Policemen was arrested and detained at the Onitsha Army
Barracks by the soldiers, who stormed the scene, while the Inspector was
allegedly detained at the CPS, Onitsha.
When contacted, the state Police Public
Relations Officer, Mr. Uche Ezeh, said he was at a burial ceremony and was not
handy to get details of the incident.
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