The Abia State Command of the Nigerian Police Force has refuted any involvement in the Wednesday killing of an unidentified truck driver in Aba, who was a civilian.
In a statement released on Thursday afternoon, Assistant Superintendent of Police Maureen Chinaka, the Command’s public relations officer, provided the following explanation: “With regard to the shooting incident and civilian’s death around the flyover at Alaoji Area in Aba, the Command Has This to Say:
“From our preliminary investigation, there is no credible evidence to suggest that police officers mistook themselves for members of IPOB and fired at each other.
“What we can confirm is that there was a shooting in that area, which resulted in the death of a civilian. The identities of those responsible for the shooting and their motives are still under investigation.
“However, we encourage anyone with useful information regarding the incident to report at the nearest police station.”
According to available information, two police patrol teams from Umuahia and Aba Area Command, Aba, exchanged gunfire during the incident.
Allegations were made that the state command, operating in commercial buses, was unable to identify one another before exchanging gunfire.
As the gunfire continued, people on the Enugu-Aba-Port Harcourt Expressway, including shop owners near Alaoji Motor Spare Parts, scurried for cover.
But the truck driver was not so fortunate in this incident; he was fatally shot.
When the suspects discovered they were all police officers, it was claimed that an argument broke out. They were accused of trading accusations but declining to take accountability for the driver’s death.
