A police officer has killed an army officer during an altercation over curfew in Delta state.
File photo
An army officer attached to 222 battalion in Agbarha-Otor, Ughelli North L.G.A Delta State has died after being shot by a police officer attached to Bomadi Divisional Police Station, on Friday.
According to TheNation, another policeman sustained life-threatening injuries during the shooting incident, it was learnt.
A source said the incident followed an argument after a group of soldiers and policemen clash over implementation of the dusk-to-dawn curfew in the area.
The Nation gathered that the incident occurred at about 12.00 a.m at a drinking pub close to the military unit along NDDC road in Bomadi.
According to the source,”The police team are operatives of the Eagle Net formation in the division while enforcing the dusk-to-dawn curfew in the area. They accosted some individuals at the drinking spot in the middle of the night for violating the curfew.
“While the Eagle-Net Squad demanded to know the reason for their action an argument ensued. Unknowingly, there were some soldiers in company of some civilians.
“Though we are yet to ascertain if the soldiers identified themselves, but angered by the actions of the policemen who insisted on dispersing the crowd. But the soldiers insisted that the policemen do not have a right to question those hanging out close to their unit.
“This led to an argument with one of the soldiers retrieving his rifle from the shelter nearby and shooting a policeman identified as Sergeant Chukwudi Osuali in the stomach. Angered by the action of the soldier,a colleague of the policeman immediately opened fire on the soldier in retaliation and killed him on the spot.”
Delta Police image-maker, DSP Onome Onowakpoyeya confirmed the incident.
She said,”As it is now,it is too early to comment on the matter, more so, our head, the Commissioner of Police has met with the army in the State to unravel the mystery behind the incident and there is going to be a joint investigation into the matter”.
The Nation gathered that the Commander, Sector 1,Operation Delta Safe,Col Habib Manu assured there will be no reprisal action by the soldiers.