Two police officers serving in Gombe State have been apprehended in Rivers State following the fatal shooting of a father of four, identified as Mr. Peterside, in a bar located in Port Harcourt.
The incident unfolded at a lounge situated in the Elelenwo Community within the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.
The policemen responsible for the shooting were part of a specialized operational team dispatched to the state for a significant assignment.
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According to reports, the victim had visited the lounge in his locality along with his wife and three children when an altercation erupted at the bar.
A source revealed that amidst the chaos, the police officers present at the lounge began firing their weapons, resulting in a bullet striking Mr. Peterside.
The Public Relations Officer of the State Police Command, Superintendent of Police Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident. She stated that the matter was reported by the widow of the deceased, Ebikere Peterside.
Iringe-Koko’s statement read: “On Monday, August 7, 2023, Rivers State Police Command received a complaint from one Peterside Ebikere ‘F,’ of Police Road, Elelenwo, Port Harcourt.
“She reported that on Thursday, August 3, 2023, at about 10:00 PM, while at a Bar/Lounge in the company of her husband and three children, a sudden outbreak of pandemonium occurred.
“In the midst of the confusion, mobile policemen from 43 PMF Gombe on special duty in Rivers State for guarding purposes fired several shots that hit her husband.”
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She further elaborated, “He was rushed to Save-a-Life Hospital, where he was pronounced dead by the attending doctor. Subsequently, the body was taken to the Military Hospital Mortuary.
“The involved policemen have been apprehended and are presently in custody at the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for ongoing investigation. The findings of the investigation will be disclosed to the public.”
The tragic incident has once again brought attention to the need for appropriate measures to prevent excessive use of force by law enforcement officers.