15 policemen, protesting traders in police net over death of female police officer
Nosa Akenzua, Asaba
Fifteen Policemen including Protesting traders are currently being detained at Delta state Police Command, Asaba following the alleged killing of a female Police Officer in Asaba recently.
The victim, a Police Corporal and nursing mother with a six month old baby was allegedly killed by a Police Constable ( name withheld) when they went for the demolition of a mini market at Bonsac area of Asaba.
It was gathered that the police command arrested the entire members of the team that went for the demolition exercise, including an armourer and other senior officers from the B Division Police station for allegedly allowing a Constable who ought not to handle such firearm to bear an AK47 rifle during the exercise.
Sources said that the suspects facing trials, especially the police officers, may be dismissed from the Police force as trouble started when the women whose shops were demolished went on protest against the action of the police and the man ( Landlord) who called in the police when suddenly the Constable allegedly pulled the trigger that hit the victim on the spot.
It was further gathered that some of the Protesting women were arrested and are still in the police cell while many others including commuters and residents of the area fled for safety during the incident as efforts to revive the victim by her colleagues failed.
The “killer” Cop and four other colleagues were drafted from the “B” Division to quell the protest against a self imposed chairman of petty traders whom majority of the traders were against. But an eye witness, Julie Ote said that the protest went wrong when one of the Cops went berserk and opened fire with the bullets accidentally hit his female colleague who died immediately.
Police Commissioner in the state, Adeleke Adeyinka who confirmed the incident and the death of the Police Officer, said 15 suspects were arrested and currently being detained for investigation, adding that the killer Policeman and 11 traders were part of those arrested.
He said:” the suspects are currently being detained for thorough investigation, especially the Killer Policeman including the 11 traders who also were involved in the protest and the officer that was killed is a young nursing mother with Just six months old baby, so the matter is very critical and most be thoroughly investigated before they are dismissed or arraign in court, It’s very unfortunate”
Meanwhile, operatives of the Nigerian Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) , Delta state Command ,has arrested two suspects who attempted to steal a Mercedes Benz car on Maryanm Babangida way off Okpanam road in Asaba.
Reports said that the arrest of the suspects (names withheld) was made possible on intelligence gathering by the Operatives who arrived the scene unknown to the suspects , unfortunately, two of them escaped and the vehicle was recovered.
But the police commissioner in the state, Adeleke Adeyinka who confirmed the arrest of the suspects, said that the two arrested one were being detained at the A Division police station for further investigation, adding that they would be charged to Court on completion of investigation.
