17th May, 2018
Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
There was heightened tension in the Ada George road axis of Port Harcourt in Rivers State on Thursday as soldiers invaded Ada George Police Station, released suspects in detention and beat up policemen on duty in retaliation to the killing of their colleague by the police.
The details of the incident were sketchy at the time of this report, however, our correspondent gathered that at about 8.00am Thursday, a soldier dressed in mufti and was lodging in a hotel at Eleparawon Junction had come out of the hotel with his AK-47 strapped on his shoulder when he was shot dead by policemen.
It was also gathered that after the soldier, who was mistaken to be an armed hoodlum was shot dead, within minutes, the sound of the gunshot aroused the attention of some other soldiers who were also lodging at the hotel who identified him as one of their colleagues.
The Policemen in the said patrol vehicle took to their heels and disappeared from the scene.
An eyewitness said in less than five minutes, scores of angry armed soldiers stormed the Ada George Police Station and allegedly beat up policemen on duty and released some of detained suspects.
While the fracas lasted, Ada George road was blocked by the police causing panic and gridlock for several hours before the barricade was removed.
Nomalcy has since returned to the Ada George area.
Spokesman of the Rivers State Police Command, Nnamdi Omoni, DSP, could not be reached on phone despite several calls.