ODAHIEKWU OGUNDE, YENAGOA
The clash between some soldiers and mobile policemen over alleged traffic offence has resulted in the shooting of two passersby in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital.
The clash between the soldiers and mobile policemen attached to Bayelsa State Vigilante Service (BSVS) occured at the popular Tombia-Etegwe Roundabout in the state capital.
It was gathered that the two victims, Miss Tarilayefa Ariweriyai (29) and Otunu Omanepemo (39) sustained severe injuries from gunshots released by one of the soldiers allegedly attached to an oil servicing firm in Bayelsa.
Eyewitness accounts indicated that a soldier in mufty allegedly drove a van against traffic and was challenged by some members of the BSVS.
The witnesses alleged that in the process of argument over the soldier’s offence, a mobile policeman attached to the vigilance group allegedly slapped him twice for challenging them in the course of their duty in spite of the fact that he committed a traffic offence.
It was gathered that after the slaps, the alleged traffic offender introduced himself as a soldier, and threatened to deal with the vigilante members and policemen at the scene.
A trader at the roundabout, who spoke on condition of anonymity, explained that when they discovered that the man was a soldier, they pleaded with him to let go of the matter.
But the trader said the soldier pretended to have accepted the apology and drove off, only for him to resurface a few minutes later with two of his colleagues well armed.
The trader said: “The soldier came back later in uniform and with two armed colleagues. They swooped on the policemen and started hitting them with the butts of their rifles.
“The fighting continued until one of the mobile policeman successfully disarmed one the soldiers. It was at that point the other soldiers started shooting indiscriminately.
“We all scampered for safety. When everywhere was calm, I came out of hiding and discovered that two persons that were by the roadside had sustained serious gunshot injuries from the shoot-out. We found out that the soldiers had fled the scene.”
It was gathered that that the cartridges of the rifle belonging to the disarmed soldier had been deposited at the Akenfa Divisional Police Station where the incident was reported by the Chairman of BSVS, Hon. Doubiye Alagba.
Alagba and some members of the BSVS also reportedly rushed the victims to the Government House Clinic, Yenagoa, where they were referred to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Yenagoa.
One of the victims, Omanepemo, who identified himself as a businessman, said he was shot in the buttocks on his way from Gbarantoru.
“As I got to the Tombia roundabout, I saw a scene where soldiers and some policemen were engaged in a serious argument and before anyone knew what was happening, gunshots were fired. And as I turned to run for safety, a bullet hit me in the buttocks,” the victim narrated.
The Bayelsa State Police Command confirmed the incident.
A statement released by spokesman for the command, Asinim Butswat, said: “On 27 June, 2022, at about 1800 hours, Police officers on duty at the Etegwe Roundabout stopped a White Toyota Hilux without plate-number, whose occupants were in mufty, for driving against traffic.
“The driver was advised to go back and follow the proper lane. The men angrily introduced themselves as military personnel and promised to come back and deal with the police officers.
“Surprisingly, the men came back to the roundabout in military camouflage and started beating a member of the vigilante. The police officers tried to separate them, but the men in military camouflage started shooting indiscriminately.
“In the process, a stray bullet hit two civilian passersby namely; one Ariweri Taralayefa f’ 29 years old and one Omonopeno Oturu m’ 38 years old. The victims have been treated and discharged from the hospital.”
Butswat said the military and police authorities were investigating the incident for possible identification of the men involved.