A mob
on Thursday attacked and killed a policeman over the death of a woman and two
children on Owerri Road, Onitsha, Anambra.
Witnesses said that the incident occurred at
3.30p.m. when the police officer attempted to forcibly stop an articulated
vehicle loaded with sand along the road.
According to the witnesses, the driver lost
control causing the fatal accident.
“A tipper driver who was carrying sharp sand
tried to meander his way past the policemen at the checkpoint but in the
attempt to escape ran into the woman and children.
“I wouldn’t know exactly why the tipper driver
was stopped but immediately the accident happened, the policemen around the
area made effort to leave the scene but were attacked by the mob,” a witness
said.
The witness said that the victims were standing
by the roadside to board a vehicle to their destination when they met their
untimely death.
Another witness said that the mob spontaneously
chased the policemen and beat up two of them, while the others escaped with
their guns.
The news Agency of Nigeria learnt that the
factory along the road, where the policemen were on special duty, was set
ablaze by the mob.
The
incident later forced police from Okpoko Police Station in Onitsha to carry out
a mass arrest of persons along the busy road.
Reacting, the state Police Public Relations
Officer, Nkeiru Nwode, expressed dismay over the development, saying the youths
should have reported the matter to the police.
“It was just an accident. Three people died on
the spot and their remains have been deposited in the mortuary.
“The scene of the accident has also been
barricaded and the police are in control of the situation,” she said.
Ms. Nwode said the police were against unlawful
assembly and would not relent in efforts to maintain peace and order in the
state.
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Premium Times/ NAN
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