Bayelsa State Police officer arrested for killing driver

The Bayelsa State Police Command on Monday evening confirmed the arrest of a police officer attached to MOPOL 30 Squadron in connection with the killing of a driver.

The Bayelsa Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Fidelis Odunna (DSP), confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on telephone.

He said: “it is true that the driver died. The officer concerned has been arrested and is with the state C.I.D. I am very sad.”

NAN gathered that a trigger-happy mobile Policeman shot and killed a driver of a Toyota Hilux van identified as Goddy Umorem at Swali market area of Yenagoa in a traffic jam.

Investigations revealed that Umorem, who was returning to his company’s base at Akaba village, was killed when he had an argument with the policeman.

An eyewitness told NAN that the driver had been passed by a civilian controlling traffic for the construction firm working on the road.

However, the policeman who was also attached to the same construction company ordered the late driver to reverse.

The eyewitness said that appeals by the driver that he could not reverse because there were vehicles behind him and more so when he had been passed by the traffic controller were ignored.

This was said to have angered the policeman who went to the front of the Hilux van and shot him on the head killing him instantly.

The late driver’s employer, Dr Azibapu Eruani, described the incident as unfortunate and asked the police to unravel the circumstances of the death.

The remains of the deceased had been deposited at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) mortuary in Yenagoa.