By: Felix Ikpotor
More casualties were recorded Thursday, following the shooting of a Keke rider identified as Schoolboy in Rukpokwu, Obio Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Schoolboy was shot by a police officer from the Rumuokoro police station after he refused to give him 100 Naira bribe.
The situation led to outrage as his colleagues and others protested the act by the officer leading to pandemonium in the area.
Eyewitness accounts said the police shot directly at protesters who were carrying the corpse of the slain tricycle rider to the Rumuokoro police station.
The eyewitness said a police van conveyed two other persons to the hospital after they sustained gunshots injuries.
However, one Nkpara Noble Nwi-Eezor who was hit by a stray bullet couldn’t survive it as he died at the scene.
Nwi-Eeezor, an orphan, who hails from Luusue-Songho in Khana LGA was a grinder at the Rumuodomaya market and was on his way to his business place when he was hit by the stray bullet.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Command of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has confirmed the killing of commercial tricycle rider in Rukpokwu, Schoolboy Ikechukwu and the arrest of his killer, an Inspector of Police, who it said was cooling his heels in police cell at the moment.
A statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Nnamdi Omoni said orderly room trial of the trigger-happy Inspector has commenced while security has been beefed up around the scenes of incidence.
The State Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mukan has also condoled with the family of the late Ikechukwu and the Keke Drivers’ Union, assuring them that the interest of justice will be served in the circumstance, while appealing to all aggrieved persons to maintain restraint and allow the law take its full course.
The statement by Omoni disclosed that Mukan condemned the incident and ordered the immediate commencement of the Inspector’s Orderly Room Trial.
The CP also announced that the officer has been dismissed from the force and will be charged to court for murder.
