Anger, grief and confusion raged at the undulating Okwelle Community, in the Onuimo council area of Imo State recently when a police Sergeant –Aba Itam shot and killed a 20-year old tipper conductor- whose name was given as Ifeanyi Okafor.
The tragedy reportedly occurred at the popular T-Junction, quite adjacent the Okwelle police Divisional headquarters which situates on the every-busy Okigwe-Owerri Expressway.
Our correspondent gathered that trouble started when the trigger happy police sergeant said to be an indigene of Cross River State and the deceased had a misunderstanding.
Itam and three of his colleagues who were on a stop-and-search duty on the road had ordered the tipper driver with number plate AAH229XA and other vehicles including trucks to clear off the road.
After some time, the suspect asked other vehicles to proceed on their journey but left the tipper which the deceased and his driver Ifeanyi Nwankwo were in.
Having waited for some time for the suspect to release them but all to no avail, the deceased was said to have approached the suspect to ascertain the reason for their continued delay.
Unbelievably, Itam who was wielding an Ak47 rifle reportedly opened fire on the hapless Ifeanyi at a very close range on his neck and he died instantly.
Itam and his colleagues were said to have fled from the scene on noticing that he had killed Ifeanyi.
Angered by the gory incident, youths of the area quickly mobilized themselves and attacked the Okwelle police Divisional Headquarters, set it ablaze after breaking the perimeter fence at the back but the fire was eventually brought under control before it could wreck havoc.
A police officer at the station who pleaded not to be mentioned said that the sad incident occurred around 5am and “while we were in the field trying to control the situation, some irate youths regrouped around 7am, attacked our station and destroyed valuables.
They brought down the perimeter fence from the rear. It was from that end that they gained entrance to the station. They attacked the corporals quarters and vandalized it. They attacked the counter session and also a Prado jeep parked within the premises –the windows were pelted with stones. They set the station on fire but we were able to quench the fire”.
According to tipper driver- the deceased Ifeanyi who joined him in business barely three weeks ago was a quiet boy who never offended his killer in any way.
The father of the deceased-Isaac Okafor told our correspondent that he was informed about the death of his son on phone.
Okafor, who hails Lokpa-Ukwu, in the Umunneochi council area of Abia state, said that he was with his son a day before his untimely death which has now ruined his family.
He, therefore ,appealed to both the IGP and the commissioner of police in the State- Chris Okey Ezike to ensure that justice is done.
Ezike who later spoke to newsmen informed that the killer cop had been arrested with the AK47 belonging to the police recovery.
“From the preliminary investigation, the shooting was unprofessional. I have therefore asked the state CID to take over the investigation.
The suspect and his rifle are with us but most importantly, my heart goes to the family of the deceased. I also want to urge the youths not to take laws into their hands.
Under my watch, justice must be done. I have asked all concerned sections of the command to swing into action immediately” Ezike assured.
