The Anambra State Police command has said that the incident at the Tarzan Junction, Nkpor, along the popular Enugu-Onitsha expressway on Friday which claimed about two lives has no connection with any political party or political activities.
It will be recalled that some social media messages alongside a video clip had gone viral claiming that the convoy of the Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Tony Nwoye in company of APC Governors coming from the flag off ceremony for the November 18 gubernatorial election run over and killed a passer-by, prompting a mob action and the policemen attached to the convoy, in a bid to disperse the crowd, fired into the air leading to the death of two more persons.
But in a statement issued at Awka, Anambra state capital, the Public Relations Officer, Anambra state Police command, Nkeiruka Nwode, an Assistant Superintendent of Police said that the incident occurred as a result of a disagreement between a police patrol team who were stop and search duties and a driver who failed to stop for a search as directed by the police.
According to her,”Following the shooting incident and disturbance of public peace at Tarzan Junction, Nkpor, along the popular Enugu-Onitsha Expressway on Friday 20th October, 2017, the Police Command wishes to set the records straight.
“At about 1800hrs of 20/10/2017,a Police patrol team on stop and search duties stopped the driver of a suspected Camry Vehicle for routine check. However, the driver failed to stop as directed. He was chased by the police team from Dennis memorial Grammar School (DMGS) roundabout, Onitsha and subsequently accosted at Tarzan Junction, Nkpor as a result of traffic build-up. In a bid to search the vehicle properly, a melee ensued and the driver was shot by Police. Unfortunately the driver died on the spot. A thorough search of the vehicle revealed fifteen (15) bags of weeds suspected to be Indian hemp.
“Consequently, the angry mob set ablaze security pick-up van that was seen approaching the junction. The driver of the vehicle escaped unhurt.
“Sadly, a motor boy on an approaching trailer vehicle on sighting the angry mob jumped down from the trailer and lost his life at the spot. He was reported to have been crushed to death by a hit and run vehicle”.
She observed that some miscreants who were unaware of the true fact behind the incident took advantage of the situation and gathered up for a mob action.
“The Command wishes to use this medium to warn against spreading false rumors targeted to heat up the polity as the incident has no connection with Any Political Party/activities”, she added.
The Police spokeswoman however disclosed that all the police officers involved in the unfortunate incident were in custody and undergoing interrogation.
She further appealed to members of the public especially those who witnessed the incident to feel free to help provide information to the police to help in arresting the fleeing hit and run driver.
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