Police to dismiss, prosecute cop who killed tricycle driver in Port Harcourt

A policeman, who shot and killed a tricycle driver in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, will be dismissed and prosecuted for murder, the Rivers State Police Command said on Friday.

The state Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mukan, revealed this during a live television programme on Friday in Port Harcourt.

The policeman killed the tricycle driver in Rukpokwu, near Port Harcourt on Thursday while on illegal duty.

According to Mukan, the officer has no reason to use his weapon on an innocent citizen.

He said: “You know it (the incident) happened where Keke (tricycle) people are operating. An inspector of police named Christopher Oba was on illegal duty around the Rukpokwu junction. He is not supposed to be there at that time alone.

“So, it is presumed he is on illegal duty. Along the line, he accosted a tricycle rider, there was an altercation between them. At that moment, he is not justified to use his firearms.

“But he used his firearms and shot the tricycle rider.”

The Police Commissioner also disclosed that the operative, who is currently undergoing an orderly room trial, was apprehended by policemen at the scene of the incident.

“As we are talking now, he is undergoing trial. By God’s grace, he will be charged for murder because he doesn’t have any justification to use his firearms at that time.

It would be recalled that there was unrest in Rukpokwu and Rumuodumaya on Thursday after the killing of the tricycle driver popularly known as ‘Schoolboy’ by the police officer.