POLICE KILLED BY CIVIL DEFENCE CORP

Tragedy as civil defence personnel kills mobile policeman

From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
A personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps yesterday accidentally shot dead his colleague, a mobile policeman, during a gun battle with suspected armed robbers at Etegwe in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.  It was gathered that the civil defence personnel and the deceased mobile policeman were attached to the Bayelsa State Police Command security outfit, Operation Doo Akpoo.
The incident, Daily Sun checks revealed, occurred at Etegwe during a gun battle with suspected armed robbers who were trying to escape.  A witness said the civil defence personnel in an attempt to shoot at the armed robbers, shot the mobile policeman, who was trying to take position to also shoot the bandits.
“On sighting the described vehicle of the bandits, they engaged in hot pursuit. When the occupants of the vehicle shot at the police, the civil defence personnel jumped down and shot at the bandits, who were trying to escape. But not before the deceased mobile policeman jumped into the line of fire while taking position to also shoot,” the eyewitness recounted.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Bayelsa State Police Command, Mr. Alex Akhigbe, who confirmed the incident described it as unfortunate.
“The deceased policeman and the civil defence personnel were attached to the state special security patrol team known as Doo Apoo. He accidentally shot his colleague during a pursuit of suspected armed robbers,” Akhigbe explained.