Sophia Michaels
The Bayelsa State Police Command has confirmed the identification and apprehension of a police officer who shot and killed a 40-year-old electrician, Benalayefa Bako Asiayei, over N200 along the Azikoro Road in Yenagoa, the state capital.
PUNCH Metro reports that the late Asiayei was returning from work in his vehicle, a Toyota Sienna, at about 8.00 pm on Tuesday when he was shot by the policeman attached to the Bayelsa State security outfit, Operation Doo Akpo.
The deceased who was an electrician hailed from Bobougbene community in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State was carrying a passenger in the front seat when the incident occurred.
An eyewitness who spoke with our correspondent on the condition of anonymity said the Operation Doo Akpo patrol stopped the driver and demanded N200 as their usual collection package from motorists which he said he did not have.
The eyewitness said the late Asiayei complained that he was carrying only one passenger whereupon the policeman suddenly cocked his gun and fired at him at point-blank range.
It was further gathered that it was at the scene of the shooting that the in-law, simply identified as Zaiky, saw the car and corpse, raised the alarm and one of the policemen pointed at the officer who did the shooting.
The policeman allegedly escaped in the patrol van, but some members of the crowd had already snapped his picture.
The police took the corpse to the Government House Hospital, Yenagoa and later to the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa mortuary.
Meanwhile, the family is seeking justice urging Governor Douye Diri, the Inspector General of Police and the Ijaw Youth Council to take necessary steps against police brutality in the state.
“We are calling on the Governor of Bayelsa State, Douye Diri, and the Inspector General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, as a matter of urgency, bring to book the policeman who shot Bena to death to face the law, and also calling on the Ijaw Youth Council Worldwide to take necessary action against police brutality in Bayelsa State”.
When PUNCH Metro contacted the Police Public Relations Officer of the state, Musa Mohammed, he confirmed the incident, saying that the killer cop had been identified, and arrested and internal disciplinary action commenced.
Mohammed said, “The policeman responsible is attached to the state security outfit, Operation Doo Akpo. He has been arrested and will face internal disciplinary action soon after the investigation.”
