There was rising tension on Wednesday in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, over the indiscriminate shooting of three women, identified as Alice Azaghene, Mrs Ebinipiri Onojamadu, and Mudufuro Blessing by a team of policemen on patrol duty along the popular Tombia market area of the state, causing serious injuries in the legs and some parts of their body.
The policemen according to eyewitnesses opened fire on roadside market women over the alleged cause of traffic gridlock that delayed their escort van from passing through the area.
The Tombia roundabout, home to an ever busy market and motor parks, is famous for causing gridlocks that last for several hours.
It was gathered that the accused policemen, numbering six, came down from their van and started shooting at the traders and pedestrians to leave roadsides in order to make way for their vehicle to pass freely.
The quick visit of the State Commissioner of Police, Mike Okoli, to the scene of the shooting and the arrest of the trigger happy police team had calmed frayed nerves as some youths were seen chatting “#End Police Brutality”.
Families of the victims have expressed concern over the incident, saying instead of policemen learning from the recent #EndSARS protest nationwide, they are still engaged in misconduct.
Confirming the incident, the police spokesman, SP Asinim Butswat, said the command had already identified and taken into custody the patrol team said to be responsible for the unprovoked attack on innocent women at the Tombia-Etegwe roundabout, Yenagoa.
Butswat said: “The unfortunate incident occurred at the popular Tombia-Etegwe roundabout on 24 November, 2020 at about 19:45 hours, when the patrol team was stuck in a traffic gridlock and one of the police officers in a bid to clear the gridlock accidentally fired a shot; the bullet ricocheted and injured three women.
“The victims one Alice Azaghene ‘f’ 17 years, one Mrs Ebinipiri J. Onojamadu ‘f’ 46 years, and one Madufuro Blessing ‘f’ 32 years. All have been taken to the Glory land Hospital, Yenagoa, where they are responding to treatment.
“Commissioner of Police, CP Okoli fsi, condemned the shooting and called for calm from the citizens and has also visited the injured victims and assured them that the case would be thoroughly investigated and all indicted persons brought to justice,” he said.
