The deceased, Mrs. Ebelechukwu Emeka, 38, of Igbuala Ifite Dunu in Dunukofia Local Government Area of Anambra State, suspecting that the man who drives her lorry was not making completely delivery, reported the matter to the police.
The policeman, who went with her to effect arrest of the driver, was said to have been searching the lorry with Ebelechukwu, when his rifle, which was corked, exploded and a bullet hit the complainant.
The woman died at the spot. Immediately the policeman realized that he had killed his complainant, he ran into the nearest bush. When youths in the community found him hiding him in the bush, they stripped and almost allegedly lynched him.
It was further gathered that Ebelechukwu, along with her husband, went to meet their driver, who allegedly refused to make full delivery of money he worked for on that day.
The Chairman of Aborji Youth, Oba Idemili south Local Government Area of Anambra State, Chief Uche Ezeani, where the incident happened, described the matter as an accident.
He explained that the policeman came with the woman and her husband to collect delivery money from their truck driver, when the incident occurred.
Ezeani said: “I heard that the conductor, who works with the driver of the truck Mercedes-Benz M119 reported to the couple, that the driver used to hide money in the vehicle. When the husband and wife got to where the vehicle was parked, they entered into the lorry to search it. The inspector, who was armed, also joined them in searching the vehicle for any hidden money. In the process, the gun trigger was touched and a bullet was released. The bullet hit the woman. She was rushed to hospital but was confirmed dead.”
Ezeani further stated: “I was walking pass when I saw a crowd. As a community leader, it was my duty to find out what was happening. I saw woman lying on the ground. When I approached them, they told me that a policeman shot the woman. The policeman after shooting her ran into a nearby bush. The youth went into the bush and after a while, found and dragged the policeman out. After I heard what really happened, I prevented the youth from touching him. I instructed them to take him to the police station.”
Chairman of Human Rights Defenders (HRDN), Mr. Dede Uzor Uzor, commended the Oba Aborji executive members led by Nze Dozie Nweke, the youth leader Mazi Tony Ezeani and the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Ojoto Police Station for the roles they played after the incident and in calming the restive youths.
Uzor said: “It was a case of a recalcitrant police officer’s inability to properly place his gun in its protective chamber, leading to reckless shooting. If not that the policeman was quickly rescued and given protection, the youth would have lynched him.:
He appealed to the Anambra State Commissioner of Police, for discreet investigation over the matter with hope of bringing the killer to justice.
The Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Haruna Mohammed, said the police inspector is attached to operation Nkpochapu patrol team and was on duty along Owerri-Oba road, when he accidentally pulled the trigger of his rifle, without applying safety catch. The said that the policeman misfired and as a result, the bullet hit the woman who was standing by the road side.
Mohammed said that the incident generated high tension in the area, leading to road barricade by the rampaging youths who also descended on the inspector.
Mohammed further said: “Following the incident, police patrol teams led by DPO Ojoto division, rushed to the scene, rescued the Inspector who was badly manhandled from the mob and restored normalcy with the assistance of some eminent persons in the area. Meanwhile, both the Inspector and the deceased were rushed to the Sahara Hospital for medical attention. The woman was confirmed dead by the medical doctor and her corpse deposited at gateway mortuary. However, the situation is under control, while the police inspector is in custody. The case is under investigation and we are trying to ascertain the actual cause of the incident and bring the perpetrator to justice. The command warned members of the public against taking law into their hands and further restate its commitments towards providing adequate protection of life and properties of all citizens in the state.”
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