There was tension in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Thursday as a policeman shot dead a tricycle (Keke) rider over an alleged N100 checkpoint bribe.
The victim, popularly known as School Boy by residents, was shot at Elukpokpodu Road at Rukpokwu, a link to popular SARS Road, Obio Akpor Local Government Area (LGA), Port Harcourt.
According to an eyewitness’ narration, “Around 6am this morning, School Boy who was carrying a woman passenger in his Keke had stopped at the spot to look for change when the patrol team stopped him.
“They asked for N100. The guy said he was only just coming out this morning. They then moved to impound his keke and then started hitting him in a scuffle. That was when one the policemen shot him dead.”
It was reported that Residents took to the street to protest the killing which led to the disruption of traffic on the Rumuokoro – Rumukpokwu Road.
In an unconfirmed report, 2 persons were equally shot dead, 2 others injured, while the police repelled attempts by individuals to burn down the Rumuokoro Police Divisional Office whose personnel was said to have killed the tricycle rider.
The eye witness also added that “They (protesters) brought with them corpse of police slain School Boy. They were able to touch the gate house at the station as policemen on guard initially took to their heels.
“But there was swift reinforcement of mobile policemen, vigilante (Ospac) in the area and some army who came in later. The security forces started shooting and tear gassing to disperse the mob.
“So the total killing today could be three. The police shot them all. And the area remains tense. Police and Ospac have shut that axis of the Rumuokoro Express to traffic.”
Police Public Relations Officer, Rivers Command, Nnamdi Omoni, while making efforts to ease the tension generated by the incident, said the officer who shot the victim has been arrested.