Policeman Arrested in Bayelsa For Killing Man Over a Fowl

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

The Bayelsa Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Fidelis Odunna, confirmed the arrest to the News Agency of Nigeria on the telephone.

“It is true that the driver died. The officer concerned has been arrested and is with the state CID. I am very sad,” Odunna said.

NAN gathered that a trigger-happy riot policeman shot and killed a driver of a Toyota Hilux van, Goddy Umorem, at the Swali Market area of Yenagoa in a traffic jam.

Investigations revealed that Umorem, who was returning to his company at Akaba village, was killed during an argument with the policeman.

An eyewitness told NAN that the driver had been passed by a civilian controlling traffic for Julius Berger Construction Company, 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 appeals by the driver that he could not reverse because there were vehicles behind him was ignored.

This was said to have angered the policeman who went to the front of the Hilux van and shot the driver 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 mortuary in Yenagoa.

Meanwhile, the Save Nigerian Group on Tuesday lamented the extra-judicial killings by the police in in the state.

The state chapter of the group spoke against the backdrop of the brutal killing of Umorem.

The killing had created pandemonium at the market as market women protested the incident.

The incident occurred two days after a Police patrol van allegedly ran over one Odoko Iwama, 40, along the Otiotio Road, Yenagoa, following an accusation that the deceased stole a fowl.

Iwama, a father of four, was said to have been accused of stealing a fowl.

The policemen were said to have crushed the victim while attempting to arrest him.

But the Governor of the state, Mr. Seriake Dickson, regretted the incident describing it as an avoidable accident.

Dickson in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said the deceased was among nine persons who took to their heels on sighting patrol van of the special police squad in the area.

However, SNG in a separate statement signed by its state coordinator, Puluovie Japheth, accused the police of bringing the reign of terror back to the state.

The group described the two killings as unfortunate and avoidable error on the part of the police officers.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Fidelis Odunna, confirmed the killings but said the death of Iwama was an accident.