Bayelsa State Police Command have arrested a trigger-happy mobile police officer attached to a commercial Bank in Yenagoa for unlawful use of his firearm after he shot a serving member of National Youth Service Corps and two others.
Altercation ensued after a driver of a 14-seater bus who was conveying passengers returning from the Yuletide celebration was allegedly trying to disembark passengers in front of the bank premises.
The minor disagreement between the driver and the policeman led the trigger-happy officer to allegedly opened fire on the occupants of the bus, shooting the driver and two other passengers including a serving corps member.
A statement released by the command on Tuesday said the suspect was arrested on the orders of the State Commissioner of Police, Uche Anozia and he is currently in detention at the State Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (SCID), Yenagoa.
The statement read in part: “The authorities of Bayelsa Police Command have arrested and taken into custody one Police Mobile Force (PMF) personnel for suspicion of Discreditable Conduct and Unlawful Use of his Firearm.
“The suspect, a male NCO, who was arrested on the orders of the State Commissioner of Police, CP Uche Anozia is currently in detention at the State Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department, Yenagoa,” the statement read in part.
“The unfortunate incident leading to his arrest happened on 6th January 2020 when a PMF personnel on duty in a leading commercial bank in Yenagoa had an altercation with a driver of a commercial bus over parking rights.
“In the ensuing argument, the policeman allegedly pulled the trigger of his rifle injuring the driver and one other occupant of the bus.
“Police Operatives of the Command who responded to the incident have evacuated and rushed the victims to the hospital and they are currently responding to treatment.
“Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Command has condemned the shooting incident and called for calm from the citizens. While expressing his sympathy with the injured victims, family and friends, he has equally promised that the case will be comprehensively, speedily and conclusively investigated, and all indicted persons brought to justice.”
Following the shootings, pandemonium broke out as angry residents went on a rampage and destroyed the Automated Teller Machine (ATM) located in front of the bank.
The youth in the area insist that the policeman killed the three victims.
