Policeman Allegedly Kills Colleague Over N20,000 Bribe

An unidentified policeman attached to the Anti-Kidnap Squad, Delta state police command, has reportedly shot and murdered his colleague on their way to collect a bribe of N20,000 from a suspect.

According to SaharaReporters, the incident occurred around 6:00pm by ADP along Ibusa Road at Ibusa in the Oshimili.

A man who identified himself as Nicholas told the publication that he drove from Ibusa to Asaba to look for fuel.

On his way back the security operatives stopped his vehicle and began to harass him.

He pleaded with them he was hypertensive but they did not heed his complaint and only began to listen when he told them that he had N20,000 at home.

According to him: “As I was going back home at about 5:30 pm, I met a team of policemen along the Ibusa Road, Asaba, and they stopped me for a search. After checking my car and vehicle papers as demanded, nothing incriminating was found in me and all my car documents were up to date. But the team still demanded a bribe of N50,000 from me or I would be taken to the police headquarters where I would be detained.

“All my plea to them that I am hypertensive and asthmatic fell on deaf ears as they insisted that I must give them N50,000. I told them I didn’t have a dime with me and they asked to know the amount of money I had.

“Following my health condition and with the way and manner the police treat people and put innocent people in jail, where some lose their lives, I told them I had N20,000 at home. Two of the officers were delegated to follow me home to collect the N20,000. On our way to Ibusa where I reside, my car ran out of fuel and it stopped. At that point, the policemen started shouting at me and an argument ensued between us. One of the policemen shot my rear tyre and that attracted a crowd of people.

“Even, some soldiers who were passing by stopped and the crowd asked the policemen to allow me to go since I committed no offence but they refused. After shooting my tyre, I said I would not go anywhere again. As the argument was still going on, the same policeman who shot my tyre was about to raise his gun again when it accidentally discharged and the bullet hit his colleague directly in the head. He died on the spot. At this time, everybody including myself started running for our dear lives. We learnt his body has been deposited in a mortuary in Asaba.”

A police officer attached to the state police command who confirmed the incident on the basis of anonymity said: “Yes, one of our colleagues attached to the Anti-Kidnap Squad at the state headquarters, Asaba killed his colleague through accidental discharge while on their way to collect a bribe of N20,000 from their victim. His body has been taken to the mortuary since yesterday.”

However, when the the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Bright Edafe was contacted, he denied being aware of the incident.