Jethro Ibileke/Benin
Six operatives of the Edo State Police Command have been arrested and detained in Benin, for allegedly shooting to death, a commercial bus driver identified as Igie Ugbo.
The tragic incident occurred on Tuesday at Osasimwinoba village, located along Benin-Akure express road, in Ovia North East local government area of Edo State, when the policemen were in pursuit of armed robbers terrorizing the community, allegedly shot the deceased to death by mistake.
It was gathered that the victim was among drivers who parked along the road when robbers were said to be operating in the area.
According to an eyewitness, the policemen came in a bus and started shooting into the air and as the drivers made to walk away, one of them was hit in the back by a stray bullet.
After the killing, the policemen reportedly ran away but the drivers set up bonfire on the Benin-Akure express road in protest of the killing of their colleague.
Some of the protesters said the late Igie’s wife recently gave birth to a baby.
“We were told that armed robbers were on the road. We parked and sat down. Later policemen came and started shooting. As we wanted to walk away, I heard Igie shouted and he fell down. We saw the policemen ran away,” an eyewitness said.
It was gathered that efforts by a reinforced team of policemen to disperse the protesters from the road was unsuccessful as they (protesters) resisted and stoned the policemen.
The State Commissioner of Police, Haliru Gwandu, who confirmed the report, said the policemen involved have been arrested pending investigation into the incident.
He said it was a stray bullet that hit the driver, adding that anybody found wanting would be prosecuted.