The Taraba State Command of the Nigeria Police Force has reacted to the killing of one Oliver Ezra by its personnel.
Anaedoonline.ng understands that the said officer, Sgt. Haruna Idi, on Friday (last week), shot at Oliver who is confirmed to be a driver to the Lau Local Government Chairman, Rev. Daniel Zading.
The incident reportedly happened at the police checkpoint in Kpantinapu, Jalingo.
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Findings on the incident revealed that late Ezra who rode in a Toyota Hilux van had attempted to pass the checkpoint when the officer at the checkpoint gave the right of way to a vehicle coming from the opposite direction.
Ezra who was angered with the officer’s decision reportedly came down from his vehicle and demanded that the police order the other vehicle to reverse and give way for him to pass.
The situation led to a heated argument between him and the policeman.
Unfortunately, the policeman who had cocked his rifle on seeing the speed at which the Chairman’s car drove to the checkpoint that night reportedly touched the safety trigger button, leading to the shooting of the driver and a brush on the hand of the chairman’s orderly.
Efforts to get the Chairman, Rev. Daniel Zading to explain what had transpired on the said day proved abortive as he did not pick his call or reply to a text message reportedly sent to his phone by journalists.
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However, Ezra who was immediately rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Jalingo after the shooting, died on Tuesday.
Lamenting the situation while addressing a group of journalists at the Police headquarters in Jalingo, Taraba yesterday, the State Commissioner of Police, CP Abimbola Sokoya, assured that justice will be served in the matter.
The Police boss told reporters that investigation into the incident has since commenced and the sergeant involved in the incident will be charged to court if found culpable.
He said: “We are deeply sorry over the unfortunate incident. Already the personnel involved has been arrested and investigation into the matter has commenced.
“We are going to be open to the public and the outcome of our investigation will be made public. We are in touch with the family and I want to assure the public that justice will be done in the matter,” Sokoya noted.
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Anaedoonline.ng understands that relatives and friends of late Oliver Ezra, have staged a peaceful protest in Jalingo, demanding justice for their beloved.
They are said to have marched to the Taraba State Government House in Jalingo, charging on the government to ensure that justice prevails.
The leader of the protesters and younger brother of the deceased Mr Polycarp Ezra told journalists in Jalingo that they were in Government House to register their grievance before the state government.
“We are here to register our grievance and to demand justice for Oliver. We want to call on the Governor to ensure that the policeman who killed our brother is arrested and prosecuted,” he said.
Responding to the protesters, Special Adviser to Governor Darius Ishaku on Political Matters, Alhaji Abubakar Bawa told the protesters that the government was disappointed with the development and would ensure that justice prevails.
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Bawa said: “The Governor is not happy with the development and as a man of justice, he will ensure that justice prevails.”
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