A yet-to-be-identified police officer allegedly shot dead a motorist and left three others injured after the victim’s vehicle crashed into them at the Agip-Ada George junction in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The incident occurred at about 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, causing panic among motorists, residents and traders in the busy area.
The victim was identified by eyewitnesses as Anthony.
According to reports, the policeman and his colleagues were conducting an operation at the junction when they allegedly flagged down Anthony, who was driving a private vehicle.
The motorist reportedly failed to stop, prompting the officers to pursue him. One of the policemen allegedly fired three shots at the moving vehicle.
A bullet struck Anthony from behind, causing him to lose control of the vehicle, which veered off the road and crashed into three people.
The three victims reportedly sustained serious injuries.
An eyewitness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the incident triggered confusion as residents and passers-by rushed to the vehicle and pulled out the driver, who was unconscious and bleeding heavily.
He said: “It was around 5pm. The police officers close to Agip/Ada George Junction stopped a young man who was driving, but he didn’t stop. So, they started running after him. Next thing, one of the policemen started shooting.
“He (the trigger-happy cop) shot three times. The bullet hit the driver from behind and pierced his chest. The vehicle lost control and hit people, about three of them. There was confusion and people were shouting and running. Some people brought the driver out and rushed him to the hospital close to the junction, where he died.”
The eyewitness alleged that the officer subsequently fired into the air while attempting to escape from the scene.
He said some youths confronted the policeman, disarmed him and assaulted him before other officers arrived.
He continued: “After shooting the driver, the policeman started shooting sporadically in the air in an attempt to escape. Some youths confronted him, collected the gun from him and started beating him. While they were beating the policeman, other police officers arrived and rescued him.”
A video circulating online showed residents and business owners gathered around the scene after the shooting. Local reports also said the officer was confronted by youths after allegedly attempting to flee.
The identity of the officer and the circumstances surrounding the shooting had not been officially disclosed as of Friday.
The spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, ASP Blessing Agaba, confirmed that the command was aware of the incident.
Agaba said she was awaiting details from the Divisional Police Officer before issuing an official statement.
“Yes, I heard of the incident. I’m still getting details from the DPO (Divisional Police Officer). I will release an official statement soon.”
The latest incident has renewed concerns about the conduct of police officers during stop-and-search operations and the use of firearms against motorists.
The Agip-Ada George axis has previously featured in reports of alleged police misconduct.
In 2020, a driver operating in the area accused police officers of assaulting him after he refused to pay ₦100 demanded for loading passengers. The Rivers Commissioner of Police then ordered disciplinary action and said the officers would face the consequences of their conduct.
However, the circumstances of Thursday’s shooting remain subject to official investigation.
The police are yet to disclose whether the officer involved has been arrested, whether his firearm has been recovered for ballistic examination or whether disciplinary proceedings have commenced.
The condition of the three injured persons was also unknown as of Friday.
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