…, As Police boss assures he’ll stop ‘roger’
Johnkennedy Uzoma, Owerri
A businessman in Imo State, identified as Mr. Justice Eke, escaped death by whiskers when a police officer from the Imo State Police Command allegedly shot him for letting a N50 ‘roger’ (bribe) he gave to him dropped on the floor.
The incident, which happened, on Wednesday, near Airport Junction, along Owerri-Aba Express Road, saw the driver bleeding profusely as he lost control of the vehicle and skidded off the road to a nearby bush.
The trigger-happy police officer immediately took his heels and escaped with his cocked gun and even reportedly threatened to shoot anyone who attempted to attack him.
The incident attracted other drivers, passersby and villagers and halted vehicular movement on the road for several hours before team leader of the Mopol 88, Inspector Festus Omoruwa, was compelled by the passersby to take the victim to the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri.
When our correspondent visited him at the FMC, the victim, who is also a fish seller, and a native of Umuoye Enyiogugu in Aboh Mbaise council area of the state, said he was heading to a nearby market when the tragedy struck.
He said the police team, which mounted a usual checkpoint, had demanded, as usual, a N50 bribe from him.
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He narrated that he brought out the N50 and handed it him (the policeman), but mistakenly, the money did not reach his hand as it fell on the ground.
According to Eke, “To my surprise, this infuriated the policeman as he ordered me to come down and pick up the money”.
Eke told our correspondent that he expected the officer to pick up the money from the ground, adding that instead, he shot him from close range and the bullet hit the back of his chest.
He added that what saved his life was his seat, as according to him, the bullet pierced through the seat before hitting him.
He continued, “I thank God for everything. Without that, I think I could have been a dead man by now because of my own N50 which I gave out to the policeman.”
Meanwhile the Imo State Commissioner of Police, CP. Bolaji Fafowora, while briefing newsmen, assured that the command had resolved to take drastic approach against police extortion and other vices along major roads and highways.
He assured that under his watch, such situation whereby police at check point collect money from drivers would discontinue in the state.
